Effects of a bacterial probiotic on ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids during subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in cattle

Abstract

Effects of a bacterial probiotic (BP) on ruminal fermentation and plasma metabolites were evaluated in four Holstein cattle (body weight, 645 ± 62 kg; mean ± SD) with induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). SARA was induced by feeding a SARA-inducing diet, and thereafter, 20, 50 or 100 g per head of a commercial BP was administered for 7 consecutive days during the morning feeding. Cattle without BP served as the control. The 24-hr mean ruminal pH in the control was lower, whereas those in the BP groups administered 20 or 50 g were significantly higher compared to the control from days 2 to 7. Circadian patterns of the 1-hr mean ruminal pH were identical (6.4–6.8) among all cattle receiving BP. Although the mean minimum pH in the control on day –7 and day 0 was <5.8, the pH in the treatment groups on day 7 was >5.8 and significantly higher than that of the control group ( >5.2). Ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were not affected by BP treatment; however, the BP groups had lower lactic acid levels compared with the control group at 20:00 on day 7. Additionally, non-esterified fatty acid levels decreased from 8:00 to 20:00 in all BP groups on day 7. These results suggest that administration of 20 to 50 g of a multi-strain BP for 7 days might improve the low pH and high lactic acid level of the ruminal fluid in SARA cattle.

Effects and immune responses of probiotic treatment in ruminants

“…Probiotics have the potential to enhance intestinal health by stimulating the development of a balanced microbiota with a predominance of beneficial bacteria, preventing the colonization of enteropathogens, increasing digestive capacity and improving mucosal immunity (Uyeno et al, 2015). Furthermore, demonstrated benefits of probiotic administration include increased body weight gain and reduced incidence of diarrhea (Timmerman et al, 2005;Goto et al, 2016).…”

Alterations in fermentation parameters during and after induction of a subacute rumen acidosis in the rumen simulation technique

“…Nowadays, SARA is commonly defined as a pH <5.6 for >3 hr/day (Plaizier, Krause, Gozho, & McBride, 2008), or a pH <5.8 for >5.24 hr/day (Zebeli et al., 2008). A decrease in ruminal pH causes changes in the microbial community and subsequent alterations in the fermentation pattern (Goto et al., 2016; Khafipour, Krause, & Plaizier, 2009b).…”

Effects of an increased concentrate diet on rumen pH and the bacterial community in Japanese Black beef cattle at different fattening stages

“…Ruminal fluids were collected from adjacent to the pH sensor at 13:00 on the last day of each period. These samples were immediately filtered through two layers of cheesecloth, and treated for further analyzes as reported previously [5]. Briefly, the VFAs were quantified with gas chromatography (Hitachi-163, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan), and the ruminal LPS activity was measured using a kinetic colorimetric method with Limulus amebocyte lysate (Pyrochrome; Seikagaku, Tokyo, Japan).…”