As a primary energy source for ruminants, volatile fatty acids (VFA) have been estimated to provide up to 75% of the total metabolizable energy (Bergman, 1990). Thus, it is not surprising that diets promoting fermentation and greater production of VFA also promote greater levels of productivity (e.g. milk production) than less fermentable diets (Kolver and de Veth, 2002; Oba and Allen, 2003a,b)...

In cattle, Escherichia coli O157 generally persists in the large intestine more often than in the rumen. In contrast to the rumen, the large intestine is lined by an epithelial membrane that secretes mucus. We hypothesize that substrates contained in intestinal mucus may constitute a source of energy that is preferentially used by E. coli O157. Therefore, our objective was to test the effects o...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of level of concentrate acidogenic value (AV) and forage particle size on ruminal pH and feed intake in lactating dairy cows. Two isoenergetic (net energy for lactation = 1.5 +/- 0.01 Mcal/kg) and isonitrogenous (crude protein = 17.4 +/- 0.1% dry matter) concentrates with either a low AV or high AV were formulated and fed in a total mixed ...

The use of Tasco (air-dried Ascophyllum nodosum) as a feed supplement for ruminants has been reported to affect rumen fermentation and reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in feces, but the mode of action behind this phenomenon is unclear. In this study, the effects of four Tasco levels (0, 1, 3, and 5%) on rumen microbiota and rumen/fecal E. coli O serogroups in rams were investigated. Rum...

In dairy cattle, the rumen environment is designed to function optimally within a pH range of 6.2 to 7.2. To maintain healthy rumen function, dairy cows require diets that contain adequate amounts of physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF). Ensuring adequate intake of peNDF can, however, be difficult because most commercial dairy rations, designed to maximize milk production, conta...

Hofírek B. , D. Haas: Comparative Studies of Ruminal Fluid Collected by Oral Tube or by Puncture of the Caudoventral Ruminal Sac. Acta Vet. Brno 2001, 70: 27-33. Samples of ruminal fluid were collected in four groups of high-producing dairy cows simultaneously by an oral probe and by percutaneous puncture of the caudoventral ruminal sac. The samples were tested for basic indicators of the metab...

The objective of Exp. 1 was to compare the effects of virginiamycin (VM; 0, 175, or 250 mg x animal(-1) x d(-1)) and monensin/tylosin (MT; 250/ 90 mg x animal(-1) x d(-1)) on ruminal fermentation products and microbial populations in cattle during adaptation to an all-concentrate diet. Four ruminally cannulated, Holstein steers were used in a 4x4 Williams square design with 21-d periods. Steers...

The objectives were to determine the optimum inclusion of NaOH necessary to buffer the acidity of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) and its effects on digestibility, ruminal metabolism, and metabolic acidosis in feedlot steers. Rumen cannulated Angus-crossed steers were blocked by BW (small: 555 ± 42 kg initial BW, = 4; large: 703 ± 85 kg initial BW, = 4) over four 21-d periods in a...

The influence of pH dynamics on ruminal bacterial community composition was studied in 8 ruminally cannulated Holstein cows fitted with indwelling electrodes that recorded pH at 10-min intervals over a 54-h period. Cows were fed a silage-based total mixed ration supplemented with monensin. Ruminal samples were collected each day just before feeding and at 3 and 6h after feeding. Solid and liqui...

Three experiments with factorial arrangements of treatments were designed to test the efficacy of avian-derived polyclonal antibody preparations (PAP) against Streptococcus bovis (PAP-Sb) or Fusobacterium necrophorum (PAP-Fn) in reducing ruminal counts of target bacteria in beef steers supplemented or not with feed additives (300 mg of monensin/d and 90 mg of tylosin/d; MT). Feeding increasing ...