Goats fed with non-protein nitrogen: ruminal bacterial community and ruminal fermentation, intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance

Abstract

The current study assessed ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial community, nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of goats fed diets containing buffel grass hay and ruminal ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3). Five rumen-cannulated mixed-breed castrated adult goats (45 ± 2.3 kg) were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design represented by five N-NH3 levels (3.43, 9.95, 17.2, 23.0 and 33.7 mg/dl). Control animals were fed hay exclusively. Other treatments were represented by ruminal infusion composed of a mixture containing urea, ammonium sulphate and casein. The increasing N-NH3 concentrations did not affect rumen fluid pH, which averaged 6.43. Rumen ammoniacal nitrogen increased linearly in response to N-NH3. Volatile fatty acids were not affected by increasing N-NH3 concentrations. A higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae (Ruminococcus 1, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group) was observed in the rumen of goats infused with higher concentrations of N-NH3 (17.2 and 33.7 mg/dl N-NH3). There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.050) of N-NH3 levels on neutral detergent fibre intake with maximum values estimated at 13.7 mg/dl N-NH3. Nutrient intake, nitrogen excretion and nitrogen balance presented a positive linear effect (P < 0.050). In conclusion, 3.43 mg/dl of N-NH3 is the minimum level to maintain microbial activity, whereas the recommended level to optimize the microbial community is 14.5 mg/dl of N-NH3 in the rumen of goats fed buffel grass.

Comparative Study Among Boer, Damascus and Their Crossbred Goats: Performance, Digestion, Nutritive Values and Blood Parameters

“…Ruminal pH levels under 6.00 may prohibit cellulolytic bacteria from functioning, and for fiber digestion, bacterial activity prefers a higher pH value [29]. The value of ruminal pH in the present study is more than 6 which is in agreement with Lopes et al [32], Helmy et al [33], and Maxiselly et al [26]. It is known that NH 3 -N is one of the main sources for bacteria growth and bacterial protein synthesis [34].…”

Hydrogenosome, Pairing Anaerobic Fungi and H2-Utilizing Microorganisms Based on Metabolic Ties to Facilitate Biomass Utilization

“…NH 3 -N is important for protein supply for ruminants. It can be absorbed by rumen microbes [113,114] and converted into microbial proteins that can be used by the host. Many microbes, such as Selenomonas ruminantium, Veillonella parvula, and Wolinella succinogenes [115,116], in the rumen can generate NH 3 -N using H 2 and formate when nitrate and nitrite are used as electron acceptors [117,118].…”

Calcium Hypochlorite Promotes Dark Fermentative Hydrogen Production from Waste Activated Sludge

“…The genus Sporacetigenium was reported to mainly adopt mono- and disaccharides to produce hydrogen, and it was enriched by 2.35% in the Ca­(ClO) 2 -treated fermenter. NK4A214_group , a VFA- and hydrogen-producing genus which widely exists in the rumen of goats, was enriched from 0.007 to 2.03% after pretreatment. The total abundances of the above functional microbes dramatically increased from 3.21 to 45.62% when Ca­(ClO) 2 was added, suggesting that the microbial structure in the Ca­(ClO) 2 -treated fermenter was more favorable to hydrogen generation than that of the control.…”