Influence of sodium fumarate addition on rumen fermentationin vitro

Abstract

The influence of sodium fumarate on rumen fermentation was investigated in vitro using batch and semi-continuous cultures of mixed rumen micro-organisms taken from three sheep receiving a basal diet of hay, barley, molasses, fish meal and a mineral–vitamin supplement (500, 299·5, 100, 91 and 9·5 g/kg DM respectively). Batch cultures consisted of 10 ml strained rumen fluid in 40 ml anaerobic buffer containing 200 mg of the same feed given to the sheep. Sodium fumarate was added to achieve a final concentration of 0, 5 or 10 mmol/l, as a result of the addition of 0, 250 or 500 μmol, equivalent to 0, 200 and 400 g/kg feed. CH4 production at 24 h (360 μmol in the control cultures) fell (P < 0·05) by 18 and 22 μmol respectively (SED 7·5). Total gas production was increased by the addition of fumarate without significant accumulation of H2. Substantial increases in acetate production (92 and 194 μmol; SED 26·7, P < 0·01) were accompanied by increases in propionate formation (212 and 396 μmol; SED 13·0, P < 0·001). Longer-term effects of fumarate supplementation on ruminal fermentation and CH4 production were investigated using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). Eight vessels were given 20 g basal diet/d, and half of them received a supplement of fumarate (disodium salt) over a period of 19 d. The response to the daily addition of 6·25 mmol sodium fumarate was a decrease in CH4 production of 1·2 mmol (SED 0·39, P < 0·05), equivalent to the consumption of 4·8 mmol H2, and an increase in propionate production of 4·9 mmol (from 10·4 to 15·3 (SED 1·05) mmol/d, P < 0·01). The inhibition of CH4 production did not decline during the period of time that fumarate was added to the vessels. Thus, the decrease in CH4 corresponded well to the fraction of the fumarate that was converted to propionate. Fumarate had no significant (P > 0·05) effect on total bacterial numbers or on the number of methanogenic archaea, but numbers of cellulolytic bacteria were increased (8·8 v. 23·9 (SED 2·49) × 105 per ml, P < 0·01). Fumarate also increased DM digestibility of the basal diet after 48 h incubation (0·476 v. 0·508 (SED 0·0123), P < 0·05). Thus, it was concluded that sodium fumarate may be a useful dietary additive for ruminants, because it diverts some H2 from CH4 production and because it is able to stimulate proliferation of cellulolytic bacteria and digestion of fibre.

Effects of tea saponins on rumen microbiota, rumen fermentation, methane production and growth performance—a review

“…In the Rusitec, 6.25 mmol fumarate caused a 1.2 mmol fall in methane production (Lopez et al 1999). In our in vivo study (Yuan et al 2007), daily methane production was reduced by 9.6% on addition of TSDF, but if only DF was used, almost 2 mol (more than 300 g) of DF was needed to achieve the same level of methane reduction.…”

Effect of nitrate and fumarate in Prosopis cineraria and Ailanthus excelsa leaves-based diets on methane production and rumen fermentation

“…Nitrate decreases methane production by acting as a hydrogen sink and inhibiting the growth and activities of methanogens through the intermediate products of nitrate metabolism by nitrate reducing bacteria (Leng, 2008;Patra and Yu, 2013). Organic acids that are intermediates of propionate production such as malate and fumarate enhance propionate concentration with a stoichiometric decrease in hydrogen availability for methane synthesis (Lopez et al, 1999;Ungerfeld and Kohn, 2006). Based on these backgrounds, it was hypothesized that incorporation of tree leaves along with nitrate or fumarate may additively lower methane production in the rumen.…”

Factors affecting rumen methanogens and methane mitigation strategies

“…Hence, less methane production (Martin 1998;Lopez et al 1999a) was reported. Addition of sodium fumarate in vitro decreased methane production and also increased dry matter digestibility (Lopez et al 1999b). Asanuma et al (1999) found that fumarate also reduced methane production in vitro and suggested it to be an economical feed additive.…”