• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.877-884
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• 2004

Although gut microbial functions have been analyzed through cultivation of isolated microbes, molecular analysis without cultivation is becoming a popular approach in recent years. Gene cloning studies have partially revealed the mechanisms involved in fiber digestion of individual microbe. The molecular approach finally made it possible to analyze full genomes of the representative rumen cellulolytic bacteria Fibrobacter and Ruminococcus. The coming database may contain useful information such as regulation of gene expression relating to fiber digestion. Meanwhile, unculturable bacteria are still poorly characterized, even though they are main constituents of gut microbial ecosystem. The molecular analysis is essential to initiating the studies on these unculturable bacteria. The studies dealing with rumen and large intestine are revealing considerable complexity of the microbial ecosystems with many undescribed bacteria. These bacteria are being highlighted as possibly functional members contributing to feed digestion. Manipulation of gut bacteria and gut ecology for improving animal production is still at challenging stage. Bacteria newly introduced in the rumen, whether they are genetically modified or not, suffer from poor survival. In one of these attempts, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens expressing a foreign dehalogenase was successfully established in sheep rumen to prevent fluoroacetate poisoning. This expands choice of forages in tropics, since many tropic plants are known to contain the toxic fluoroacetate. This example may promise the possible application of molecular breeding of gut bacteria to the host animals with significance in their health and nutrition. When inoculation strategies for such foreign bacteria are considered, it is obvious that we should have more detailed information of the gut microbial ecology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.672-676
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• 2003

Effect of a surfactant Tween 80 on the bacterial growth in the rumen was examined on the in vitro pure cultures of Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Prevotella ruminicola, Megasphaera elsidenni, Fibrobacta succinogenes, Ruminanococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Dry matter degradability (DMD), concentrations and compositions of volatile fatty acids (VFA), and the most probable number (MPN) of cellulolytic bacteria and total number of bacteria in the presence of Tween 80 were also examined on the in vitro rumen mixed culture either with barley grain or orchardgrass hay. The growth of S. bovis, S. ruminantium, B. fibrisolvens, P. ruminicola, M. elsidenni and F. succinogenes were significantly higher (p<0.05) at over 0.05% concentrations of Tween 80 than those of the control cultures, while was not changed with R. albus and R. flavefaciens. With rumen mixed culture the DMD of barley grain and orchardgrass hay was significantly higher (p<0.05) at a 0.2% concentration of Tween 80 than the control, being reflected in the significantly higher (p<0.05) VFA production (mmol $g^{-1}$DDM) with orchardgrass hay. The higher (p<0.05) ratio of propionate to acetate at a 0.2% concentration of Tween 80 was also observed with orchardgrass hay, showing a similar trend with barley grain. No changes in the total bacterial number and MPN of cellulolytic bacteria were observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 2017

Objective: The gastrointestinal tract of sheep contain complex microbial communities that influence numerous aspects of the sheep's health and development. The objective of this study was to analyze the composition and diversity of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract sections (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum) of sheep. Methods: This analysis was performed by 454 pyrosequencing using the V3-V6 region of the 16S rRNA genes. Samples were collected from five healthy, small tailed Han sheep aged 10 months, obtained at market. The bacterial composition of sheep gastrointestinal microbiota was investigated at the phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species levels. Results: The dominant bacterial phyla in the entire gastrointestinal sections were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. In the stomach, the three most dominant genera in the sheep were Prevotella, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, and Butyrivibrio. In the small intestine, the three most dominant genera in the sheep were Escherichia, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcus. In the large intestine, the three most dominant genera in the sheep were Ruminococcus, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, and Prevotella. R. flavefaciens, B. fibrisolvens, and S. ruminantium were three most dominant species in the sheep gastrointestinal tract. Principal Coordinates Analysis showed that the microbial communities from each gastrointestinal section could be separated into three groups according to similarity of community composition: stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum), small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), and large intestine (cecum, colon, and rectum). Conclusion: This is the first study to characterize the entire gastrointestinal microbiota in sheep by use of 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing, expanding our knowledge of the gastrointestinal bacterial community of sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.531-537
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• 2017

Objective: This experiment was conducted to explore the impact of diet on the ruminal microbial community in goats. Methods: Twelve goats were divided into two groups and fed complete feed (CF) or all forage (AF) diet. The total microbial DNAs in the rumen liquid were extracted. The V4 region of microbial 16S rRNA genes was amplified and sequenced using high-throughput. Information of sequences was mainly analyzed by QIIME 1.8.0. Results: The results showed that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most predominant microbial phyla in the rumen of all goats. At genus level, the abundance of fiber-digesting bacteria such as Ruminococcus and Lachnospiracea incertae sedis was significantly higher in AF than that in CF, while the levels of fat-degrading bacterium Anaerovibrio and protein-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas were opposite. The core shared genera, Prevotella and Butyrivibrio were widespread in the rumen of goats and no significant difference was observed in relative abundance between groups. Conclusion: We concluded that the richness of fiber-, protein-, and fat-digesting bacteria was affected by diet and tended to increase with the rise of their corresponding substrate contents in the ration; some bacteria shared by all goats maintained stable despite the difference in the ration, and they might be essential in maintaining the normal function of rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.495-504
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• 2017

Objective: Manipulating the fermentation to improve the performance of the ruminant has attracted the attention of both farmers and animal scientists. Propionate salt supplementation in the diet could disturb the concentration of propionate and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of calcium propionate supplementation on the ruminal bacterial community composition in finishing bulls. Methods: Eight finishing bulls were randomly assigned to control group (CONT) and calcium propionate supplementation (PROP) feeding group, with four head per group. The control group was fed normal the total mixed ration (TMR) finishing diet, and PROP group was fed TMR supplemented with 200 g/d calcium propionate. At the end of the 51-day feeding trial, all bulls were slaughtered and rumen fluid was collected from each of the animals. Results: Propionate supplementation had no influence the rumen fermentation parameters (p>0.05). Ruminal bacterial community composition was analyzed by sequencing of hypervariable V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. The most abundant phyla were the Firmicutes (60.68%) and Bacteroidetes (23.67%), followed by Tenericutes (4.95%) and TM7 (3.39%). The predominant genera included Succiniclasticum (9.43%), Butyrivibrio (3.74%), Ruminococcus (3.46%) and Prevotella (2.86%). Bacterial community composition in the two groups were highly similar, except the abundance of Tenericutes declined along with the calcium propionate supplementation (p = 0.0078). Conclusion: These data suggest that the ruminal bacterial community composition is nearly unchanged by propionate supplementation in finishing bulls.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1590-1598
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lysophospholipids (LPL) supplementation on rumen fermentation, degradability, and microbial diversity in forage with high oil diet in an in vitro system. Methods: Four experimental treatments were used: i) annual ryegrass (CON), ii) 93% annual ryegrass +7% corn oil on a dry matter (DM) basis (OiL), iii) OiL with a low level (0.08% of dietary DM) of LPL (LLPL), and iv) OiL with a high level (0.16% of dietary DM) of LPL (HLPL). An in vitro fermentation experiment was performed using strained rumen fluid for 48 h incubations. In vitro DM degradability (IVDMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability, pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and microbial diversity were estimated. Results: There was no significant change in IVDMD, pH, NH₃-N, and total VFA production among treatments. The LPL supplementation significantly increased the proportion of butyrate and valerate (Linear effect [Lin], p = 0.004 and <0.001, respectively). The LPL supplementation tended to increase the total bacteria in a linear manner (p = 0.089). There were significant decreases in the relative proportions of cellulolytic (Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus) and lipolytic (Anaerovibrio lipolytica and Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus) bacteria with increasing levels of LPL supplementation (Lin, p = 0.028, 0.006, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: The LPL supplementation had antimicrobial effects on several cellulolytic and lipolytic bacteria, with no significant difference in nutrient degradability (DM and neutral detergent fiber) and general bacterial counts, suggesting that LPL supplementation might increase the enzymatic activity of rumen bacteria. Therefore, LPL supplementation may be more effective as an antimicrobial agent rather than as an emulsifier in the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.837-844
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• 2006

Four, lactating dairy cows were randomly assigned according to a $2{\times}2$ Factorial arrangement in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to study supplementation of urea level (U) at 2 and 4% and sodium dl-malate (M) at 10 and 20 g/hd/d in concentrate. The treatments were as follows U2M10, U2M20, U4M10 and U4M20, respectively. The cows were offered the treatment concentrate at a ratio to milk yield at 1:2.5 and urea-treated rice straw was fed ad libitum. The results have revealed that rumen fermentation and blood metabolites were similar for all treatments. The populations of protozoa and fungal zoospores were significantly different as affected by urea level and sodium dl-malate. In addition, the viable bacteria were similar for amylolytic and proteolytic bacteria. Cellulolytic bacteria were significantly affected by level of sodium dl-malate especially Selenomonas ruminantium and Megasphaera elsdenii while Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens was significantly affected by level of urea supplementation. In conclusion, the combined use of concentrate containing high level of cassava chip at 75% DM with urea at 4% in concentrate and sodium dl-malate at 20 g/hd/d with UTS as a roughage could improv rumen ecology and microbial protein synthesis efficiency in lactating dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.323-327
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• 1992

An experiment was conducted to determine whether there were any apparent differences in the microbial population, colonization pattern and digestion of guinea grass in situ, between cattle and swamp buffalo. Percentage losses in dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) of guinea grass were significantly (p<0.01) higher when incubated in the rumen of buffalo than in cattle. Buffalo also showed significantly (p<0.05) faster degradation rates than cattle for each grass component (DM, N, DNF). Light microscopy and SEM examination of the incubated grass materials showed that there were no apparent differences in the pattern of bacterial and fungal invasion and colonization of the grass materials between cattle and buffalo. Attachment of bacteria and fungal zoospores on the grass fragments occurred at 15 min after rumen incubation. After 3 h of rumen incubation, dense population of bacteria was observed in the thin-walled mesophyll and parenchyma tissues, whereas root-like fungal rhizoids were observed in both thin-walled and thick-walled cells. By 6 h, eroded zones were apparent in the thin-walled tissues and in thick-walled tissues with profuse rhizoids. After 24. 48 and 72 h of rumen incubation, most thin-walled tissues were degraded leaving mostly the thick-walled tissues. The predominant bacteria were the curved rods resembling Butyrivibrio sp., the thick rods resembling Fibrobacter sp., the diplococcoids resumbling Ruminococcus sp. And spirochetes. Fungi were predominantly those with spherical or oval sporangia. Fusiform sporangia with acuminate apices which resembled Ruminomyces sp. Were of lesser occurrence. Few protozoa were found on the grass fragments at all incubation times.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1205-1212
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of different dietary ratio of metabolizable glucose (MG) to metabolizable protein (MP) on growth performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation parameters and the ruminal microbial community of 8 to 10-month-old heifers. Methods: A total of 24 Holstein heifers weighing an average of 282.90 kg (8 month of age) were randomly assigned to four groups of six. The heifers were fed one of four diets of different dietary MG/MP (0.97, 1.07, 1.13, and 1.26). Results: The results showed that the ratio of MG/MP affected the growth performance, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation parameters and the ruminal microbial community of heifers. The average daily gain of heifers was enhanced by increasing the ratio of MG/MP (p<0.05). The concentration of blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as the concentration of total volatile fatty acid in the rumen fluid of heifers decreased with the improvement in the ratio of dietary MG/MP (p<0.05). However, the relative amount of Ruminococcus albus and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens in the rumen of heifers was increased significantly (p<0.05) when the dietary MG/MP increased. At the same time, with the improvement in dietary MG/MP, the amount of Fibrobacter succinogenes increased (p = 0.08). Conclusion: A diet with an optimal ratio (1.13) of MG/MP was beneficial for the improvement of growth, rumen fermentation, dietary protein and energy utilization of 8 to 10-month-old dairy heifers in this experiment.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2024

Objective: Mitragyna speciosa Korth is traditionally used in Thailand. They have a high level of antioxidant capacities and bioactive compounds, the potential to modulate rumen fermentation and decrease methane production. The aim of the study was to investigate the different levels of microencapsulated-Mitragyna leaves extracts (MMLE) supplementation on nutrient degradability, rumen ecology, microbial dynamics, and methane production in an in vitro study. Methods: A completely randomized design was used to assign the experimental treatments, MMLE was supplemented at 0%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of the total dry matter (DM) substrate. Results: The addition of MMLE significantly increased in vitro dry matter degradability both at 12, 24, and 48 h, while ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration was improved with MMLE supplementation. The MMLE had the greatest propionate and total volatile fatty acid production when added with 6% of total DM substrate, while decreased the methane production (12, 24, and 48 h). Furthermore, the microbial population of cellulolytic bacteria and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens were increased, whilst Methanobacteriales was decreased with MMLE feeding. Conclusion: The results indicated that MMLE could be a potential alternative plant-based bioactive compound supplement to be used as ruminant feed additives.