Enhancing Butyrate Production, Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population through Supplementation with Clostridium saccharobutylicum

Abstract

Butyrate is known to play a significant role in energy metabolism and regulating genomic activities that influence rumen nutrition utilization and function. Thus, this study investigated the effects of an isolated butyrate-producing bacteria, <i>Clostridium saccharobutylicum</i>, in rumen butyrate production, fermentation parameters and microbial population in Holstein-Friesian cow. An isolated butyrate-producing bacterium from the ruminal fluid of a Holstein-Friesian cow was identified and characterized as <i>Clostridium saccharobutylicum</i> RNAL841125 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The bacterium was evaluated on its effects as supplement on in vitro rumen fermentation and microbial population. Supplementation with 10⁶ CFU/ml <i>Clostridium saccharobutylicum</i> increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) microbial crude protein, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids concentration but had no significant effect on NH3-N at 24 h incubation. Butyrate and total VFA concentrations were higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in supplementation with 10⁶ CFU/ml <i>Clostridium saccharobutylicum</i> compared with control, with no differences observed for total gas production, NH₃-N and propionate concentration. However, as the inclusion rate (CFU/ml) of <i>C. saccharobutylicum</i> was increased, reduction of rumen fermentation values was observed. Furthermore, butyrate-producing bacteria and <i>Fibrobacter succinogenes</i> population in the rumen increased in response with supplementation of <i>C. saccharobutylicum</i>, while no differences in the population in total bacteria, protozoa and fungi were observed among treatments. Overall, our study suggests that supplementation with 10⁶ CFU/ml <i>C. saccharobutylicum</i> has the potential to improve ruminal fermentation through increased concentrations of butyrate and total volatile fatty acid, and enhanced population of butyrate-producing bacteria and cellulolytic bacteria <i>F. succinogenes</i>.