Measurement in vivo of rumen microbial protein synthesis

Abstract

A method is described for the measurement in vivo of ruminal microbial protein synthesis. The method depends upon the incorporation into microbial protein of sulphur derived from 35S -labelled inorganic sulphate infused continuously into the rumen. Steady-state labelling of rumen digesta protein and specific activity of microbial sulphur are used, along with estimates of total digesta mass, to calculate total microbial sulphur in the rumen. The rate of disappearance of isotope from the rumen after cessation of [35S]sulphate infusion is used to calculate the flow rate of microbial s~dphur from that organ. Microbial sulphur may be used to estimate microbial nitrogen or crude protein by means of conversion factors.