K. Hillman et al., POSTPRANDIAL VARIATIONS IN ENDOGENOUS METABOLIC-ACTIVITIES OF OVINE RUMEN CILIATE PROTOZOA, Animal feed science and technology, 52(3-4), 1995, pp. 237-247
The effects of diet and of time after feeding on the endogenous metabo
lism of four different subfractions of rumen ciliate protozoa (mixed p
opulation, large entodiniomorphid, Isotricha and Dasytricha spp.) were
examined, with respect to the production of gas, acetate, butyrate an
d L-lactate and rates of uptake of glucose. The type of feed, and time
after feeding, had a marked effect on the composition of the sampled
rumen protozoal population, with respect to metabolic activity of the
component groups. The heterogeneity of these subpopulations, with resp
ect to their relative metabolic activities at different times, are cle
arly demonstrated. The data are in general accord with related finding
s; e.g. protozoa from sugar-beet-fed animals were more active than tho
se from hay-fed animals, and previous measurements of rumen dissolved
gases agreed with the present measurements of activity within protozoa
.