The study aimed to investigate the effects of gynosaponin on in vitro methanogenesis under different forage-concentrate ratios (F:C ratios). Experiment was conducted with two kinds of F:C ratios (F:C = 7:3 and F:C = 3:7) and gynosaponin addition (0 mg and 16 mg) in a 2×2 double factorial design. In the presence of gynosaponin, methane production and acetate concentration were significantly decr...

Using a defaunating method which preserved bacteria and fungi in the rumen, the effect of protozoa on protein and fibre digestion was studied in six adult wethers in relation to the nature of the diet. Sheep were given daily, 42 g dry matter (DM)/kg metabolic body-weight (W0.75), one of two isonitrogenous diets: one contained ammonia-treated wheat straw as the only energy source (diet S) and th...

Rumen function is generally suboptimal leading to losses in methane and nitrogen. Analysis of the rumen microbiome is thus important to understanding the underlying microbial activity under different feeding strategies. This study investigated the effect of forage conservation method and vitamin E supplementation on rumen function using a rumen simulation technique. Ryegrass (GRA) or ryegrass h...

Two adult sheep (75 kg live weight) fitted with rumen cannulas were defaunated by the emptying method during the first period of the experiment. They were inoculated with the genus Isotricha alone during the second period, and with a mixed ciliate population (Entodinium, Eudiplodinium, Epidinium) during the third. They were fed a diet of grass hay (840 g) and pelleted maize grains (360 g) in 8 ...

We studied in meroxenic lambs, i.e. in lambs with a simplified digestive microflora, the effect of the microflora on the quantities of solid feed intake and on the main digestive parameters in the rumen. Axenic lambs were inoculated with a more or less complex flora, obtained by diluting (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-8) a pool of rumen fluid taken either from young conventional lambs before weaning from...

The diversity of methanogenic archaea associated with different species of ciliated protozoa in the rumen was analysed. Partial fragments of archaeal SSU rRNA genes were amplified from DNA isolated from single cells from the rumen protozoal species Metadinium medium, Entodinium furca, Ophryoscolex caudatus and Diplodinium dentatum. Sequence analysis of these fragments indicated that although al...

The effect on methanogens attached to the surface of rumen ciliate protozoa by the addition of plant extracts (pine needles and ginkgo leaves) was studied with particular reference to their effectiveness for decreasing methane emission. The plant extracts (pine needles and ginkgo leaves) were added to an in vitro fermentation incubated with rumen fluid. The microbial population including bacter...

in this experiment, different doses of zataria multiflora (zm) and eucalyptus globolus (eg) essential oils (eos) (0, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 µg/ml) and a mixture of them were added to alfalfa hay incubated with buffered rumen liquor of merghoz goat to assess in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation and protozoa population. in all treatments the asymptotic gas volume (b) and the rate cons...

A micro spectrophotometric procedure for the quantitative determination of plasmalogen aldehydes is described which utilizes simultaneous methanolysis and formation of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones. After isolation of the hydrazones by thin-layer chromatography, the aldehydes can be regenerated, reduced, acetylated, and then analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Identification of the plasmalogen...

There is increasing interest in exploiting natural products as feed additives to solve problems in animal nutrition and livestock production. Essential oils and saponins are two types of plant secondary compounds that hold promise as natural feed additives for ruminants. This paper describes recent advances in research into these additives. The research has generally concentrated on protein met...