A proposed simple method for determining the outflow of ciliates from the reticulo-rumen

Abstract

Two adult male sheep were used to determine the outflow of protozoa from the reticulo-rumen. The outflow of ciliates was calculated on the basis of their concentration in reticular digesta and volume of effluent leaving the reticulo-rumen. The concentration of ciliates from the genus Entodinium and Diplodinium in reticulum was by 33-63 % and 32-73% lower than in the rumen. The concentration of Holotricha varied between 55.7 and 126.8% of the ruminal density. No differences were found between the concentration of protozoa in reticular digesta taken at the contraction and resting phases of the reticulum. The number of ciliates leaving the reticulo-rumen per day equaled 66-177 % of their number in the rumen, and the apparent residence time of protozoa varied between 13.8 and 36.6 h. It was longest in the case of ciliates from the genus Dipolodinium and the shortest in the case of Isotricha. A technique for the collection of reticular digesta at the contraction and resting phases of the reticulum is described.

Evaluation of a Real-Time PCR Assay Quantifying the Ruminal Pool Size and Duodenal Flow of Protozoal Nitrogen

“…The DGGE banding profiles generally were much more similar between the ruminal and duodenal samples within each respective animal than when compared across animals. Similar distributions of protozoal populations in the rumen and omasum (Towne and Nagaraja, 1990;Punia and Leibholz, 1994;Michalowski, 1998) further support our conclusion based on DGGE profiles that the filtration method accurately represents the actual protozoal populations of both the ruminal fluid and duodenal digesta; thus, the proto-Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 88, No.…”

“…The net generation times of protozoal N calculated using the real-time PCR assay were 10.7 and 17.3 h for LF and HF, respectively (pool size/duodenal flow × 24 h/d), explaining why relatively slow-growing protozoa represented a higher concentration of the total microbial N for HF. Although our average apparent generation times are somewhat shorter than those that others have determined (Dehority, 2003), those values generally were for sheep fed at lower maintenance intakes (Michalowski, 1998) or from various other indirect procedures (Dehority, 2003). With decreasing transfer interval as the criterion directly controlling the measurement of generation time, Dehority (1998) nium (which was >9% in cow 647) and Entodinium species (>98% in cow 660) of 12 h (data from Sylvester et al, 2004).…”

Effect of selected rumen fauna on the digestion of starch and outflow of α-glucose polymers from the reticulo-rumen of sheep

“…The obtained results are in line with the findings of Mendoza et al (1993) on the effect of a mixed fauna, but in disagreement with the data of Veira et al (1983) and Rowe et al (1985). The outflow rate from the reticulum was calculated according to Michałowski (1998). Despite selective retention of ciliates in the rumen, the increase in the quantity of α-glucose polymers passing to the omasum was observed (P<0.05).…”