Nitrogen Metabolism in the Rumen

In addition to the bacteria in the rumen there are many larger (5–250/mm long) organisms which at various times have been designated protozoa Of these the ‘ovals’ (Quin’s and Eadie’s) are now known to be large bacteria (Orpin, 1976) and the ‘flagellates’ Neocallimastix frontalis, Piromonas communis and Sphaeromonas communis are the zoospores of phycomycete fungi (Orpin, 1977a, b) There are genuine flagellates in the rumen, eg Trichomonas spp, Monoceromonas sp and Chilomastix sp, but almost nothing is known about their metabolism (Jensen and Hammon, 1964) The largest, most obvious and most important protozoa are the ciliates, of which there are two groups both in the subclass Trichostomatia The so called ‘holotrich’ protozoa belong to the order Vestibuliferida and the entodiniomorphs to the order Entodiniomorphida, suborder Entodiniomorphina and family Ophryoscolecidae As the properties and metabolism of these two protozoal groups are different, they will be considered separately below

The Rumen Protozoa

Chemical factors involved in ruminal fiber digestion.

Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on ruminal protein synthesis estimated from excretion of total purine derivatives

Why are ruminal cellulolytic bacteria unable to digest cellulose at low pH

Associative effects of mixed feeds. I. effects of type and level of supplementation and the influence of the rumen fluid pH on cellulolysis in vivo and dry matter digestion of various roughages

Manipulation of rumen fluid pH and its influence on cellulolysis in sacco, dry matter degradation and the rumen microflora of sheep offered either hay or concentrate

Associative effects of mixed feeds. II. The effect of dietary addition of bicarbonate salts on the voluntary intake and digestibility of diets containing various proportions of hay and barley

F.L. Mould

Papers

Associative effects of mixed feeds. I. effects of type and level of supplementation and the influence of the rumen fluid pH on cellulolysis in vivo and dry matter digestion of various roughages

Manipulation of rumen fluid pH and its influence on cellulolysis in sacco, dry matter degradation and the rumen microflora of sheep offered either hay or concentrate

Associative effects of mixed feeds. II. The effect of dietary addition of bicarbonate salts on the voluntary intake and digestibility of diets containing various proportions of hay and barley