Effect of different cellulolytic rumen bacteria on fiber digestion

Abstract

Ruminococcus flavefaciens & R.albus were obtained before feeding from different ruminant species: goats, sheep, cattle and water buffalo. The goat source showed the highest (P<= 01) ability for xylan, flax hemicellulose, corn hull hemicellulose and berseem hemicellulose digestion. The results of rate of digestion showed similar results with statistical differences (P<= 05). That was reflected on first order kinetics with highest (P <= 01) b values for R.flavefaciens from goat origin. These predominant ruminal cellulolytic bacteria were grown in different binary combinations to determine the outcome of cellulose digestion. R.flavefaciens from goat origin showed its domination (P <= 01) in cellulose limitation coculture . The retention of R.albus in the cellulose-limited coculture may result from its ability to utilize glucose.