Effect of some electrolytes on in vitro rumen microbial protein synthesis in buffaloes

In vitro studies were carried out to examine the effect of MnCl2, MgCl2, CoCl2 and CaCl2 on protein synthesis by rumen microorganisms obtained from fistulated buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis). The concentration of the electrolytes in stained rumen fluid (SRF) ranged from 1 to 20, 1 to 20, 0.25 to 5 and 1 to 20 mM, respectively. MnCl2 (15 mM), MgCl2 (10 mM), CoCl2 (2.5 mM) and CaCl2 (20 mM) increased the protein content in the incubation mixture (IM) by 501, 230.8, 537.6 and 84% and the per cent incorporation of 35S from (NH4)2 35SO4 into microbial protein by 125.6, 108.5, 113.4 and 40.3, respectively, over the control values, when the incubation lasted 8 h. The NH3-N content in IM decreased by 8, 14, 43 and 16% when 10 mM MnCl2, 20 mM MgCl2, 1 mM CoCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2, respectively, was added and the incubation lasted 6 h. The reasons for increased protein biosynthesis by rumen microorganisms in the presence of the above electrolytes are discussed.