Some effects of rumen ciliate protozoa in cattle given restricted amounts of a barley diet

Abstract

1. Two pairs of Friesian steers were changed fromad lib.to restricted intake of a pelleted barley diet and were maintained on this latter intake for periods of 18 or 25 weeks. The restricted level of intake was 70 g/kg0.73and was adjusted weekly according to individual live weights. The daily allowance was given in three equal feeds during day-time.2. After an initial period of 9 weeks on the restricted diet, during which all four animals were kept free of rumen ciliate protozoa, one member of each pair was given an inoculum of rumen ciliates. Eight weeks later, the ciliate-free member of the younger pair of steers was similarly inoculated. Observations were made on the rumen bacterial and protozoal populations and on changes in rumen pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA) throughout each treatment period. The concentrations of urea and haemoglobin in blood and of glucose and amino acids in plasma were examined on one occasion in each animal.3. In the absence of ciliates, restriction of intake resulted in rumen pH values and molar proportions of VFA similar to those normally encountered on anad lib.intake of a barley diet. A decrease in bacterial numbers and certain minor changes in bacterial types were observed on changing fromad lib.to restricted intake but the resultant population under ciliate-free conditions was basically the same as that found later in the faunated animals. In culture, organisms of the genusBacteroideswere predominant.4. Large populations of rumen ciliates were established in each animal inoculated. Relative to the ciliate-free periods, the presence of ciliates resulted in an increase in rumen pH, a reduction in total VFA concentration and a decrease in the ratio of propionic to butyric acid in rumen fluid. It is concluded that these changes are a direct effect of ciliate activity.5. Conditions within the rumen remained more stable from day to day when large ciliate populations were present than when ciliates were absent. In one animal, spontaneous fluctuations in ciliate number were accompanied by corresponding changes in rumen pH and VFA proportions.6. Significant differences were observed between faunated and ciliate-free animals in the concentration urea in blood and of glucose in plasma; only minor differences were noted in blood haemoglobin and plasma amino acid concentrations.