Abstract
Rumen Protozoa are strictly anaerobic and highly specialized ciliates and can live only in the rumen and similar habitats. These Ciliata play an important role in feed utilization and indicate the environmental impact (methane emissions and nitrogen excretion) of ruminant production. Digestion of feed in ruminants depends on the life activity of microorganisms. Without their help, ruminants could not assimilate cellulose with simple non-protein compounds. These microorganisms located in rumen decompose the organic substances in the feed and form volatile fatty acids, ammonia, amino acids, which animals use for their development and reproduction. In the rumen of domesticated cattle and sheep, rumen cilia constitute 20-50% of the total microbial biomass. Rumen Ciliata develop symbiotic relationships with their animal hosts and both symbiotic and predator-prey relationships with other members of the rumen microbiota. The lack of axenic cultures of rumen Ciliata has forced researchers to use other methods to determine the metabolism and functions of rumen Protozoa, such as comparing rumen fermentation and microbial profiles of faunal and non-ciliated cattle or sheep or using in vitro cultures.
Published Version
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