The effect of selected rumen fauna on fibrolyticenzyme activities, bacterial mass, fibredisappearance and fermentation pattern in sheep

Abstract

Three Polish Merino wethers, fed hay and ground barley, were defaunated and then faunated with Eudiplodinium maggii only; with Eudiplodinium maggii and Entodinium caudatum or with both opryoscolecids and Dasytricha ruminantium. The total number of ciliates varied in the range of 16-403 x 10 3 /g rumen content depending on the experimental period. Total bacterial contributed to 12.7-19.6% DM of rumen digesta. The bacterial matter in two of three sheep was negatively influenced by Entodinium caudatum and Dasytricha ruminantium while the effect of Eudiplodinium maggii was positive. The establishment of ophryoscolecid ciliates in the rumen resulted in an increase in both CMC-ase and xylanase activities (P<0.01), while the appearance of Dasytricha ruminantium was accompanied by a decrease in xylanolytic activity. A positive relationship was found between the numbers of Eudiplodinium maggii and both CMC-ase and xylanase activities (P<0.05) irrespective of the presence or absence of other protozoa in the rumen. It was calculated that 8-38% of the activity of CMC-ase and 14-49% of xylanase in the rumen originated from Eudiplodinium maggii. The quantities of dry matter, ADF and NDF that disappeared from the rumen within 12 h after feeding were 0.62-0.83, 0.18-0.32 and 0.32-0.54 kg, respectively.