The linkage among the microbial community and health outcomes in monogastric species has been well documented along with demonstrated evidence for species-dependent health consequences. While a symbiotic relationship between the microbial inhabitants and the ruminant host has been accepted from the perspective of feed digestion, the mechanisms for host-regulation of the microbial community is n...

One of the largest challenges for the dairy industry is to provide cows with a diet which is highly energetic but does not negatively affect their rumens' functions. In highly productive dairy cows, feeding diets rich in readily fermentable carbohydrates provides energy precursors needed for maximum milk production, but simultaneously decreases ruminal pH, leading to a widespread prevalence of ...

Effects of a bacterial probiotic (BP) on ruminal fermentation and plasma metabolites were evaluated in four Holstein cattle (body weight, 645 ± 62 kg; mean ± SD) with induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). SARA was induced by feeding a SARA-inducing diet, and thereafter, 20, 50 or 100 g per head of a commercial BP was administered for 7 consecutive days during the morning feeding. Cattle wit...

A distinguishing feature of ruminants is that they rely on anaerobic fermentation of feeds in the rumen and reticulum (collectively termed the reticulo-rumen) to supply metabolizable energy in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable protein in the form of microbial protein. While the production of SCFA is a nutritionally desired effect, excessive rates of SCFA production an...

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on subacute acidosis in cattle. In Exp. 1, 60 individually fed yearling steers (270 +/- 22 kg BW) were used in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Steers were assigned to one of five dietary treatments: 1) dry-rolled corn (DRC), 2) 35% WCGF fed d 1 to 132, 3) 86.5% WCGF fed d 1 reduced to 35% ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the variations of vitamin B12 and homocysteine in blood of dairy cows during subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). On 228 subjects ruminal liquid was collected through rumenocentesis technique and rumen pH was immediately measured by a portable pH-meter. On the basis of pH values all cows were classified (bovine class) in Group A (animals with rumen pH>5.7),...

The objective of this study was to determine the effects substituting barley grain with short-season, high-moisture shelled corn, and silage snaplage on ruminal fermentation site extent digestion in beef cattle fed finishing diets. Six ruminally duodenally cannulated heifers (420 ± 16.4 kg body weight) were a diet (BG), where half replaced corn (HC), or portion (SN) replicated 3 × Latin square ...

Our objective was to evaluate a near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) used in the feed industry to estimate the potential for grains to increase the risk of ruminal acidosis. The existing NIRS calibration was developed from in sacco and in vitro measures in cattle and grain chemical composition measurements. To evaluate the existing model, 20 cultivars of 5 grain types were fed to 40 Ho...

Ingestion of high levels of rapidly fermented carbohydrates after parturition often leads to the production of excessive quantities of organic acids that may exceed the buffering capacity of the rumen and cause pH to drop. Ruminal acidosis results in animal discomfort, anorexia, depression, decreased digestibility, and decreased milk production. In the present study, we examined the effects of ...