Measurements of the rate of production of bacteria in the rumen of buffalo calves

Abstract

SUMMARY A technique is described for the in vivo estimation of the rate of production of bacteria in the rumen of buffalo calves. The animals were given their daily ration in 12 equal amounts at 2-h intervals. The bacterial cells from the rumen were labelled either with 14 C or 36 S by in vitro incubation in the presence of [U- 14 C]DL-leucine or 35 S-sodium sulphate. Labelled bacterial cells were injected in a single dose into the rumen. Samples of the ruminal fluid were drawn at various time intervals for 9 h and the specific radio-activity of the bacteria determined. The dilution in the specific radioactivity was used to calculate the turn-over time and rates of production of bacteria in the rumen. The average turnover time was 308 min. The production rate of bacteria averaged 211 mg/min (20·3 g/mole VFA produced).