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In vitro rumen fermentation of soluble and non-soluble polymeric carbohydrates in relation to ruminal acidosis

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Abstract

The end-products of dietary carbohydrate fermentation catalysed by rumen microflora can serve as the primary source of energy for ruminants. However, ruminants provided with continuous carbohydrate-containing feed can develop a metabolic disorder called “acidosis”. We have evaluated the fermentation pattern of both soluble monomeric and non-soluble polymeric carbohydrates in the rumen in in vitro fermentation trials. We found that acidosis could occur within 6 h of incubation in the rumen culture fermenting sugars and starch. The formation of lactic acid and acetic acid, either alone or in mixture with ethanol, accounted for high build-up of acid in the rumen. Acidosis resulted even when only 20% of a normal daily feed load for all soluble and non-soluble carbohydrates was provided. DNA-based microbial analysis revealed that Prevotella was the dominant microbial species present in the rumen fluid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Engineering, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Darwin & Ralf Cord-Ruwisch

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, 23111, Indonesia

    Darwin

  3. School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    Anne Barnes

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  1. Darwin
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  2. Anne Barnes
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  3. Ralf Cord-Ruwisch
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Correspondence to Darwin.

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Darwin, Barnes, A. & Cord-Ruwisch, R. In vitro rumen fermentation of soluble and non-soluble polymeric carbohydrates in relation to ruminal acidosis. Ann Microbiol 68, 1–8 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-017-1307-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-017-1307-x

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