Sheep Rumen Liquor Research Articles

Anaerobic digestion of sodium hydroxide pretreated pig faeces using sheep rumen liquor or anaerobic digester mixed liquor as inoculum

This study focuses on the influence of sodium hydroxide pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of pig faeces using either sheep rumen liquor or anaerobic digester mixed liquor as the inoculum. Pretreatment with sodium hydroxide improved the anaerobic digestion of pig faeces resulting in a higher volume of gas produced and a faster rate of gas production. Using sheep rumen microorganisms as inoculum resulted in a fast rate of reactivity, but the total amount of gas produced and the estimated methane content were both comparatively low. The reverse was found to be true for the anaerobic digester microorganisms. A pH close to 7.0 was essential for the growth of both types of microorganisms. A buffer was essential to maintain this pH in the case of the rumen microorganisms. Sodium toxicity became significant when the concentration of sodium in the digester mixtures approached 0.2 M. Potassium additions alleviated such toxicity. The maximum gas production (568 ml/g organic matter) was obtained by pretreating the faeces with 7 g NaOH/100 g dry matter and using anaerobic digester mixed liquor as inoculum without the use of buffer solution.

METHIONINE METABOLISM IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF SHEEP

The metabolic fate and time-dependent incorporation of dietary methionine into rumen bacterial proteins of 1-yr-old wethers has been studied following a single intraruminal administration of L-[rnethyl-14C]-methionine. Of the radioactivity found in the rumen liquor (RL) of sheep 2 h after dosing, an appreciable amount of the [methyl-14C] label was incorporated into methionine of the bacterial protein (15%) and only small amounts (< 1%) as cyst(e)ine. In another experiment, the metabolic fate of methionine labeled either in the sulfur atom or in the carbon or hydrogen atoms of the methyl group was studied in the ruminai, omasal, abomasal and duodenal contents of growing lambs. Two hours after oral administration of the L-[methyl-14C]-, L-[methyl-3H]-, or L-[35S]-rnethionine the portions of the radioactivity of rumen liquor located in the methionine of the rumen bacterial protein were 10.7, 6.9 and 7.3%, respectively while those in the cystine were less than 1% for the methyl-labeled methionine and 4.5% for the 35S methionine. Most of the radioactivity reaching the alimentary tract of growing lambs 2 h after dosing was distributed as labeled methionine in the TCA-insoluble fraction of the digesta in the omasum (86%) and abomasum (65%), whereas only 23% was found in this fraction in the duodenum. The relative amount of radioactivity incorporated into methionine of the bacterial protein from lambs which received L-[methyl-3H]-, or L-[35S]-methionine was appreciably less than that from those which received L-[methyl-14C]-methionine.

The effect of diet supplements and gamma irradiation on dissimilation of low-quality roughages by ruminants: III. Effects of feeding gamma-irradiated base diets of wheaten straw and rice straw to sheep

SUMMARYResults of two experiments in which gamma-irradiated low-quality cereal straws were fed ad libitum to sheep, with and without supplements, are reported.In Exp. I 12 adult Merino wethers were fed chopped wheaten straw irradiated at 50 Mrad or non-irradiated wheat straw, each roughage was fed with and without a supplement of urea, minerals and vitamins. In Exp. II 16 adult Merino wethers were fed diets of chopped rice straw or chopped rice straw irradiated at 25, 50 or 75 Mrad; each of these roughages was fed with and without a supplement of casein, minerals and vitamins.Gamma-irradiated diets were invariably associated with reduced mean retention times of undigested feed particles in the digestive tract, and a depressed apparent digestibility of dietary dry matter. Voluntary feed intake of sheep given unsupplemented wheat straw irradiated at 50 Mrad was not significantly affected; nor was the voluntary feed intake of sheep fed unsupplemented irradiated rice straw. Irradiation depressed apparent dry-matter digestibility of unsupplemented wheat straw by 5·2 percentage units; irradiated rice straw diets were depressed by 20·2 (25 Mrad); 9·0 (50 Mrad) and 27·2 (75 Mrad) percentage units compared to non-irradiated diets.Supplementation of irradiated wheat-straw diets tended to restore them to a nutrient worth approximating their original levels in terms of digestibility and intake. Supplementation of rice-straw diets increased voluntary feed intake, because mean retention time was reduced, but diet dry-matter digestibility remained depressed. Supplementation always increased the animals’ state of nitrogen balance; irradiation per se had little effect.Distribution of gastro-intestinal-tract dry-matter content showed a strong tendency for a greater proportion of the ingesta to be located in the hind gut of animals fed irradiated rice-straw diets, thus confirming the enhanced rate of passage of these diets through the tract as determined by the use of dual stained feed-particles. For sheep fed wheat straw the average mean retention time for non-irradiated particles was 50·9 % greater than for irradiated particles. For rice straw diets non-irradiated feedparticles had mean retention time (pooled across supplementation and irradiation treatments) 30·8% greater than for irradiated particles.Distinct changes occurred in the ratio of acetic to propionic acid in the rumen liquor of sheep fed irradiated diets which are suggestive of an alteration in species composition of the foregut microbial population.Evidence is presented for the presence in irradiated diets of a factor or factors toxic to the ruminal microbiota.Irradiation at the levels used decreased feed particle size, but any advantage so obtained was offset by an enhanced rate of passage of feedstuff through the tract with consequent depression in digestibility. It is concluded that further work is required to elucidate the effects reported and to further establish optimum conditions for use of gamma irradiation as a technique in the treatment of low-quality roughages for use by ruminants.

Effect of arachis oil on the conservation of heavily wilted herbage ensiled in plastic containers: II.‐Fate of the arachis oil and its effect on the rumen volatile fatty acids of sheep

AbstractArachis oil was added to heavily wilted ryegrass at a mean level of 4 · 16 % of the total ensiled dry matter. Gas‐liquid chromatography of the lipid extract was used to investigate possible chemical changes in the ensiled oil. The data obtained suggest that little degradation of the acids occurred. The percentage of linolenic acid increased and this was accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of linoleic acid and oleic acid. The presence of the oil decreased the volatile fatty acid content of the silage. There were no significant differences in the pH or the proportion of volatile fatty acids present in the rumen liquor of sheep fed the oil‐treated silage compared with those in the rumen liquor of sheep fed control silage.

Formation of Octadecadienoic Acid by Rumen Liquor of Calves, Cows and Sheep In Vitro

The effect of incubation on the fatty acid composition of rumen liquor was studied in samples taken from calves, cows, and sheep.Rumen fluid from calves 3 to 5 weeks old showed an increase in octadecadienoic acid on incubation at the expense mainly of 18:0 and 18:1. There was no net synthesis of total fatty acids during incubation. Calves fed on a diet of milk only continued to exhibit 18:2 synthesizing activity beyond five weeks, but in calves given dry feed an opposite pattern, indicating hydrogenating activity, began to appear at about five weeks. Centrifugation of rumen liquor at 6,500 g into a protozoa-rich sediment and a protozoa-free supernatant revealed that the former is associated with fatty acid hydrogenating activity and the latter with 18:2 formation.Rumen liquor from older calves, cows, and sheep exhibited the usual hydrogenating activity. However, as in the case of younger calves, the 6,500-g supernatant showed the formation of octadecadienoic acid and a decrease in 18: 0 + 18:1 upon incubation whereas the protozoa-rich sediment had intensive hydrogenating activity.

Comparison of the efficiency of proteins contained in lucerne hay and soya-bean meal for sheep.

1. In four feeding experiments with sheep the utilization of proteins contained in lucerne hay and of those in toasted soya-bean meal (SBM), representing a roughage and concentrate feed respectively, were examined. The ration of one group of animals contained lucerne hay as sole source of digestible protein and that of the other SBM.2. Measurements of the nitrogen balance showed clearly the superiority of lucerne hay as protein source compared with soya-bean meal; this arose from the greater N retention found with the lucerne hay ration.3. The influence of both rations on the metabolic pathways of the proteins was examined by following the changes of concentration of various metabolites in the rumen contents and of blood urea at different intervals after feeding.4. Concentrations of urea found in the blood of the sheep given lucerne hay were lower than those of the other group, a finding which is in agreement with the results of the balance experiments.5. The concentrations of NH2-N and of aminoacids in the rumen liquor were higher in sheep given lucerne hay than in those given SBM. These concentrations appeared to be related to the differences between the soluble non-protein N contents of the two feeds.6. The results agree with the finding from in vitro experiments that rumen liquor from sheep receiving lucerne hay promoted greater synthesis of protein than rumen liquor from sheep receiving SBM.7. Total bacterial activity as measured by the reduction of triphenyltetrazolium chloride (dehydrogenase activity) was much higher in the rumen liquor of sheep given lucerne hay than when SBM was given.8. The concentrations of volatile fatty acids (C2-C6) were much higher in the rumen liquor in sheep on the lucerne hay diet than in those on the SBM diet. After meals of the lucerne hay diet, the concentrations of acids higher than C2, particularly those of valeric acid, exceeded those present in the rumen liquor of the animals kept on the SBM diet.9. Proline and alanine appeared in relatively higher concentrations in the rumen liquor than the other amino acids determined, and these two acids together with valine disappeared very rapidly. The possible conversion of these amino acids into valeric acid is considered. It is suggested that valeric acid found in relatively high concentrations in rumen liquor of sheep given lucerne hay may be due in part to the deamination of proline, which likewise disappeared very rapidly together with alanine and valine.

Transaminase activity in the rumen liquor of sheep

1. The presence of transaminase activity in rumen contents has been demonstrated. The level of activity varied with time after feeding and was influenced by the nature of the diet.2. Rumen contents from a sheep given a diet containing casein showed greater transaminase activity at 2 h than at 6 h after feeding. Conversely, with a diet containing urea and maize, the activity was higher at 6 h than at 2 h after feeding.3. The greater part of the transaminase activity of rumen liquor was associated with the fraction containing protozoa and food residues while the cell-free fraction contained no transaminase activity under the experimental conditions.

On the taxonomic status of "Quin's oval" organisms.

Purified suspensions of the sheep rumen organism known colloquially as ‘Quin's oval’ were prepared from sheep rumen liquor. The chemical composition of cell walls prepared from the organisms of these suspensions was found to include protein, lipid and polysaccharide. A fraction from these walls, obtained after removal of much of the protein and polysaccharide, was shown to contain muramic acid, glucosamine and diaminopimelic acid. These findings are consistent with this organism being regarded as a Gram-negative bacterium.

Determination and Occurrence of Histamine in Rumen Liquor of Sheep

Methods for the determination of histamine in rumen liquor and different feeds are described. The procedures involve adsorption of histamine on Amberlite IRC-50 columns and biological determination of the histamine content of eluates from the ion-exchange resin. By these methods 70—80 % of added histamine were recovered and histamine concentrations as low as 0.01 μg histamine diphosphate per ml of rumen liquor could usually be estimated. Occurrence and formation of histamine in rumen contents of sheep have been examined with the following results:

Dehydroxylation of caffeic acid by a bacterium isolated from rat faeces.

THE removal of phenolic hydroxyl groups in rats and rabbits was first reported in 1957 by Booth et al.1. More recently, Booth and Williams2 showed that dehydroxylation of caffeic acid to m-hydroxy-phenyl-propionic and m-coumaric acids was also carried out by rat and rabbit caecal contents and sheep rumen liquor. In accord with their results, Booth and Williams suggested that intestinal micro-organisms could be responsible for the dehydroxylation reactions.

SOLUTES IN THE RUMEN OF THE SHEEP.

The osmolality and specific conductivity and the concentrations of sodium, potassium, ammonium, volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen, dry weight and ash were determined in the rumen liquor of sheep that had been without feed or water for 18 hr. The liquor was significantly hypotonic to blood plasma.The fasting levels of the rumen osmolality and specific conductivity, the dry weight content and the concentrations of sodium and potassium appeared to be characteristic of the individual animal.A series of experiments was carried out on two sheep to determine the changes in the rumen constituents following the giving, or prolonged withholding, of feed and water. The rumen contents remained hypotonic during a 3 days' fast. Injection of 1500 ml. water diluted the rumen contents and it took more than 10 hr. for normal conditions to be restored. When the animals were fed, the rumen contents rapidly became hypertonic, largely due to the ingestion of potassium salts and the production of volatile fatty acids; unexpectedly it was found that the ingestion of a dry ration containing NaCl did not greatly affect the concentration of sodium in the rumen contents. Even when the animals drank after eating, the subsequent decline in the concentration of the total rumen solutes was a gradual process.

Studies of natural herbage of the sub-tropics. III. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia in the rumen of sheep fed fresh herbage

1. Concentrations of ammonia, volatile fatty acids, and molar proportions of acetic, propionic and butyric acids were determined in the rumen liquor of sheep fed fresh herbage harvested in the first month of growth.2. Concentrations ofammoniacal nitrogen ranged from 4·06 to 13·65 mg./1OO ml. rumen liquor with a mean value of 8·21.3. Concentrations of volatile fatty acids ranged from 7·50 to 12·20 m-moles/100 ml. rumen liquor with a mean value of 9·81. Mean molar proportions of acids were: acetic 65·8%, propionic 19·5%, n-butyric 9·0 % and higher acids 5·7 %. Differences in the proportions of acids found at different sampling times were not statistically significant.

Dehydroxylation of caffeic acid by rat and rabbit caecal contents and sheep rumen liquor.

THE dehydroxylation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (homoprotocatechuic acid) to m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in the animal body was first reported by Booth et al.1, and was confirmed by Scheline et al.2, with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid labelled with carbon-14. A claim has been made recently3 that noradrenaline is converted to m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in guinea pigs; such a conversion involves not only dehydroxylation in the aromatic nucleus but also in the aliphatic side-chain of noradrenaline.

Isolation and characterization of a hemicellulose-fermenting bacterium from the sheep rumen

A strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-like organism was isolated from sheep rumen liquor by culture in hemicellulose medium. The organism fermented several carbohydrates, including hemicellulose, producing acetic and lactic acids as the main end-products. Some biochemical characteristics of the organism are described and its taxonomic placement is discussed.

Cellulolytic enzymes from sheep-rumen liquor micro-organisms.

Research Article| August 01 1958 Cellulolytic enzymes from sheep-rumen liquor micro-organisms G. N. Festenstein G. N. Festenstein 1Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeenshire Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem J (1958) 69 (4): 562–567. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj0690562 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation G. N. Festenstein; Cellulolytic enzymes from sheep-rumen liquor micro-organisms. Biochem J 1 August 1958; 69 (4): 562–567. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj0690562 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Journal Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © 1958 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS1958 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Utilization of carbohydrate metabolites by rumen microorganisms.

HERSHBERGER et al. 1 have recently published observations concerning the in vitro study of the utilization of carbohydrates and carbohydrate metabolites by rumen micro-organisms. Using a basal salt medium with an inoculum of sheep rumen liquor and a 24-hr. incubation period, these workers determined, inter alia, the volatile fatty acid production from pyruvic acid and lactic acid and obtained the following results (Table 1).

A Convenient Method for Preparing Massive Suspensions of Virtually Bacteria-free Ciliate Protozoa of the Genera Isotricha and Dasytricha for Manometric Studies

THE extensive biochemical investigations recently carried out with pure cultures of the free-living, aerobic ciliate Tetrahymena geleii (see Kidder1 for summary) raise the question whether similar studies are possible with the obligatory anaerobic ciliates of the sheep's rumen. So far we have not been able to induce these Protozoa consistently to multiply in vitro, although some success has attended our efforts at keeping them alive for long periods in the presence of rumen bacteria2. One of us, however, observed3 that the holotrich ciliates in sheep's rumen liquor, if allowed to attack glucose, rapidly became so dense through polysaccharide storage that they formed a separate white layer at the bottom of the vessel.