1. Five rumen-fistulated cows were given freshly cut ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), on separate occasions, to compare rates of particle breakdown and aspects of rumen fermentation. 2. Cattle were required to consume their daily allowance (offered ad lib.) in two 2 h feeding periods daily. 3. During the first 2 h feeding period, dry matter (DM) intakes of ryegrass...

BACKGROUND The rumen harbors a complex microbial ecosystem for efficient hydrolysis of plant polysaccharides which are the main constituent of the diet. Xylanase is crucial for hemicellulose hydrolysis and plays an important role in the plant cell wall degradation. Xylanases of ruminal strains were widely studied, but few studies have focused on their diversity in rumen microenvironment. METH...

A partially balanced changeover design experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of level of fish oil inclusion in the diet on rumen fermentation parameters and digestion with 10 beef cattle offered grass silage ad libitum as the basal forage supplemented with 5 kg concentrates headÿ1 dayÿ1. Concentrates were prepared to provide either 0 (T0), 150 (T150), 300 (T300) or 450 g (T450) fish...

Meat and milk produced by ruminants are important agricultural products and are major sources of protein for humans. Ruminant production is of considerable economic value and underpins food security in many regions of the world. However, the sector faces major challenges because of diminishing natural resources and ensuing increases in production costs, and also because of the increased awarene...

This editorial seeks to help eradicate confusions, enlighten the current perceptions, and highlight a global need to develop feasible guidelines for optimum bioprocessing of barley grain (BG). The optimum processing techniques must result in moderated rumen fermentation of starch and protein, improved rumen microbial protein synthesis, reduced risks of Sub-Acute Rumen Acidosis (SARA) and pro-in...

The effect of heat and humidity stresses on the rumen bacterial molecular diversity of heifers was studied. No statistically significant changes in the rumen microbiota composition were found in the first experiment (average body mass 250kg) while in the second and third experiments (additional variables included the relative humidity and body weight), the microbiota composition was significant...

BACKGROUND This study describes the ultrasonographic findings of the rumen in 45 healthy dairy cows. RESULTS The cows were scanned on both sides using a 5.0 MHz transducer. The dorsal visible margin of the rumen ran parallel to the lung from cranioventral to caudodorsal. It was furthest from the dorsal midline at the 9th intercostal space (48.3 ± 9.24 cm) and closest at the 12th intercostal s...

Untreated wheat straw (UWS) or ammoniated wheat straw without (AWS) or with (AWSP) a supplement of potato protein of a low rumen degradability was fed to three steers according to a 3 x 3 Latin square design. All rations were supplemented with sugar-beet pulp and minerals. Voluntary organic matter intake (OMI, g/kg0.75 per d) was 67.8, 76.0 and 80.1 for whole rations (51.1, 59.7 and 59.2 for st...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NDF content in highly digestible grass/clover silage on particle size reduction, ruminal stratification, and selective retention in dairy heifers. The reduction in particle size from feed to feces was evaluated and related to feed intake, chewing activity, and apparent digestibility. Four grass/clover harvests (Mixtures of Lolium pere...