Introduction Before birth, developing animals are sterile in the womb of their mothers. Upon birth, the digestive tracts of all animals are naturally colonized by a variety of microorganisms. Under healthy and non-stressful conditions, “beneficial” microflora colonizes the rumen and lower gut in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Beneficial rumen and gut microorganisms supply nutrients to ...

Accurate estimates of microbial synthesis in the rumen are vital to optimize ruminant nutrition. Liquid- (LAB) and solid-associated bacterial fractions (SAB) harvested from the rumen are generally considered as microbial references when microbial yield is calculated; however, factors that determine their composition are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect...

A fed-batch, anaerobic culture system was developed to assess the behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a rumen-like environment. Fermentation medium consisted of either 50% (vol/vol) raw or sterile rumen fluid and 50% phosphate buffer. Additional rumen fluid was added twice per day, and samples were removed three times per day to simulate the exiting of digesta and microbes from the rumen en...

Many mammals are herbivores, and most herbivorous mammals live on a diet that makes cellulose digestion essential. The ruminants, which include some of our most important domestic meatand milk-producing animals cattle, sheep and goats have a specialized digestive tract which is highly adapted and has evolved to digest highly fibrous plant materials which nonruminants are unable to utilize. In r...

Four ruminally cannulated cows were used to assess the distribution of the concentrations and carbohydrate-degrading enzyme activities of the liquid-associated protozoa (LAP) and solid-associated bacteria (SAB) in the rumen. The cows were fed diets (7 kg of DM/d) of 100% hay (Diet F) or 60% barley plus 40% hay (Diet C) in a 2 x 2 crossover experimental design. Samples of ruminal digesta were co...