Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:07:53.273Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The evaluation of an improved artificial rumen technique for the study of rumen fermentation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. W. Griffiths
T. W. Griffiths
Affiliation:
Spillers Limited, Animal Nutrition Research Laboratory, Middle Aston House, near Steeple Aston, Oxford
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

1. An improved artificial rumen apparatus of the dialysis type with multiple fermentation units was built and a method for its operation was evolved. Biochemical criteria of validity were used and particular reference was made to the molar percentage of the volatile fatty acids produced.

2. It was found that the apparatus was best used in a comparative manner, to measure treatment differences produced between individual fermentation units.

3. A series of experiments was carried out to measure the effects of a range of dietary treatments on rumen fermentation. In each case an in vivo comparison was also made using a cow with a permanent rumen fistula.

4. Correlation coefficients for treatment differences of 0·43 and 0·46 were found for ammonia T.V.F.A., and 0·73, 0·90 and 0·70 for the molecular proportions of acetic, propionic and butyric all the latter being significant.

5. The results were discussed with particular reference to the advantages and limitations of apparatus and the most suitable application of technique.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , December 1967 , pp. 355 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1967

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Annison, E. F., Chalmers, M. T., Marshall, S. B. M., & Synge, E. M. L. (1954). Ruminal ammonia formation with various diets. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 44, 270–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Annison, E. F. & Lewis, D. (1959). In Metabolism in the Rumen, pp. 92–119. London: Methuen and Co.Google Scholar
Armstrong, D. G. & Blaxter, K. L. (1957). The utilization of acetic, propionic and butyric acids by fattening sheep. Br. J. Nutr. 11, 413–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balch, C. C. (1957). Use of the lignin-ratio technique for determining the extent of digestion in the reticulo-rumen of the cow. Br. J. Nutr. 11, 213–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balch, C. C. (1959). Structure of the ruminant stomach and the movements of its contents. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 18, 97–102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balch, C. C. & Johnson, V. W. (1948). A pneumatic cannula and bung for rumen fistulae in cattle. Vet. Rec. 60, 446–7.Google ScholarPubMed
Balch, D. A. (1958). An estimate of the weights of volatile fatty acids produced in the rumen of lactating cows on a diet of hay and concentrates. Br. J. Nutr. 12, 18–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balch, D. A. & Rowland, S. J. (1957). Volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the rumen of dairy cows receiving a variety of diets. Br. J. Nutr. 11, 288–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barker, S. B. & Summersen, W. H. (1941). The colorimetric determination of lactic acid in biological material. J. biol. Chem. 138, 535–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Babnett, A. J. G. & Reid, R. L. (1957). Studies on the production of volatile fatty acids from grass by rumen liquor in an artificial rumen. I. The volatile acid production from fresh grass. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 48, 315–21.Google Scholar
Bath, I. H. & Rook, J. A. F. (1963). The evaluation of cattle foods and diets in terms of the ruminal concentration of volatile fatty acids. I. The effects of level of intake, frequency of feeding, the ratio of hay to concentrate in the diet and of supplementary feeds. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 61, 341–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bath, I. H. & Rook, J. A. F. (1965). The evaluation of cattle foods and diets in terms of the ruminal concentration of volatile fatty acids. II. Roughages and succulents. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 64, 67–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowden, D. M. & Church, D. C. (1962). Artificial rumen investigations. II. Correlations between in vitro and in vivo measures of digestibility and chemical components of forages. J. Dairy Sci. 45, 980–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burroughs, W., Headley, H. G., Bethke, R. M. & Gerlaugh, P. (1950). Cellulose digestion in good and poor quality roughages using an artificial rumen. J. Anim. Sci. 9, 513–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Conway, E. J. (1957). Microdiffusion Analysis and Volumetric Error. London: Crosby Lockwood.Google Scholar
Davey, L. A., Cheeseman, G. C. & Briggs, C. A. E. (1960). Evaluation of an improved artificial rumen designed for continuous control during prolonged operation. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 55, 155–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawson, R. M. C., Ward, P. F. U. & Scott, T. W. (1964). A micro-artificial rumen for isotopic experiments. Biochem. J. 90, 9–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dobson, A. (1961). Absorption from the rumen. In Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of the Ruminant, pp. 68–75. Ed. Lewis, D.. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Dougherty, R. W. (1965). Physiology of Digestion in the Ruminant. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Elsden, S. R. (1945). The fermentation of carbohydrate in the rumen of the sheep. J. exp. Biol. 22, 51–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elsden, S. R. (1946). The application of the silica gel partition chromatogram to the estimation of volatile fatty acids. Biochem. J. 40, 252–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El Shazly, K., Dehority, B. A. & Johnson, R. R. (1960). A comparison of the all glass, semi-permeable membrane and continuous flow types of apparatus for in vitro rumen fermentations. J. Dairy Sci. 43, 1445–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gall, L. S. & Glaws, W. L. (1951). The bacteriology of the artificial rumen. Bact. Proc. p. 20–1.Google Scholar
Gray, F. V. & Pilgrim, A. F. (1952). Fermentation in the rumen of the sheep. 3. Intermediate stages in the fermentation of wheaten hay in vitro by microorganisms from the rumen. J. exp. Biol. 29, 54–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, F. V., Pilgrim, A. F. & Weller, R. A. (1951). Fermentation in the rumen of the sheep. 1. The production of volatile fatty acids and methane during the fermentation of wheaten hay and lucerne hay in vitro by micro-organisms from the rumen. J. exp. Biol. 28, 74–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gray, F. V., Weller, R. A. & Jones, G. B. (1965). The rates of production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen. II. Measurement of production in an artificial rumen and application of the isotope dilution technique to the rumen of a sheep. Aust. J. agric. Res. 116, 145–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, F. V., Weller, R. A., Pilgrim, A. F. & Jones, G. B. (1962). A stringent test for the artificial rumen. Aust. J. agric. Res. 13, 343–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffiths, T. W. (1963). The development of an artificial rumen technique and its application to the study of rumen fermentation. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Head, M. J. (1959). Protein utilization by the dairy cow. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 18, 108–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hueter, G. F., Shaw, J. C. & Doetsch, R. N. (1956). Absorption and dissimilation of lactates added to the bovine rumen and the resulting effects on blood glucose. J. Dairy Sci. 39, 1430–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huhtanen, C. N. & Gall, L. S. (1952). The miniature artificial rumen and its uses. J. Anim. Sci. 11, 766.Google Scholar
James, A. T. & Martin, A. J. P. (1952). Gas-liquid partition chromatography: the separation and microestimation of volatile fatty acids from formic acid to dodecanoic acid. Biochem. J. 50, 679–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, R. R. (1966). Techniques and procedures for in vitro and in vivo rumen studies. J. Anim. Sci. 25, 855–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krogh, N. (1961). Studies on alterations in the rumen fluid of sheep, especially concerning the microbial composition when readily available carbohydrates are added to food. Ada vet. scand. 2, 103–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, D. (1961). Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of the Ruminant. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar
Louw, J. G., Williams, H. H. & Maynard, L. A. (1949). A new method for the study in vitro of rumen digestion. Science 110, 478–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MaoDouoall, E. I. (1948). Studies on ruminant saliva. 1. The composition and output of sheep's saliva. Biochem. J. 43, 99–109.Google Scholar
MoAnally, R. A. (1944). The determination of total volatile acids in blood. J. exp. Biol. 20, 130–1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nottle, M. C. & Rook, J. A. F. (1963). The effect of dietary fat on the production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen of the cow. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 22, vii.Google Scholar
Oltjen, R. R., Sirny, R. J. & Tillman, A. D. (1962). Effects of B vitamins and mineral mixtures upon growth and rumen function of ruminants fed purified diets. J. Nutr. 77, 269–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rook, J. A. F. (1964). Ruminal volatile fatty acid production in relation to animal production from grass. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 23, 71–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rook, J. A. F. & Balch, C. C. (1961). The effects of intra-ruminal infusions of acetic, propionic and butyric acids on the yield and composition of the milk of the cow. Br. J. Nutr. 15, 361–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J. C. & Ensor, W. L. (1959). The effect of feeding cod liver oil and unsaturated fatty acids on rumen volatile fatty acids and milk fat content. J. Dairy Sci. 42, 1238–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J. C, Ensor, W. L., Teilechea, H. F. & Lee, S. D. (1960). Relation of diet to rumen volatile fatty acids, digestibility, efficiency of gain and degree of unsaturation of body fat in steers. J. Nutr. 71, 203–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warner, A. C. I. (1956). Criteria for establishing the validity of in vitro studies with rumen microorganisms in so called artificial rumen systems. J. gen. Microbiol. 14, 733–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warner, A. C. I. (1964). Production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen: methods of measurement. Nutr. Abstr. Rev. 34, 339–52.Google ScholarPubMed
Warner, A. C. I. (1965). Factors influencing numbers and kinds of microorganisms in the rumen. In Physiology of Digestion in the Ruminant, pp. 346–59. Ed. Dougherty, R. W.. London: Butterworth.Google Scholar