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The Use of an Automated System (GreenFeed) to Monitor Enteric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Ruminant Animals
Published on: September 7, 2015
Changes in methane emission, rumen fermentation in response to diet and microbial interactions
Sanjay Kumar1, Sumit Singh Dagar, Anil Kumar Puniya
1Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, India.
Research in Veterinary Science
|October 11, 2012
Summary
Investigating rumen microbial cultures revealed that bacterial-fungal co-cultures increased gas and methane production. Microbial mono-cultures, particularly protozoa, reduced digestibility and volatile fatty acids.
Area of Science:
- Rumen microbiology
- Animal nutrition
- In vitro fermentation
Background:
- The rumen microbiome plays a crucial role in ruminant digestion and nutrient metabolism.
- Understanding the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between different microbial groups (bacteria, protozoa, fungi) is essential for optimizing feed utilization.
- Rumen fermentation is influenced by diet composition, particularly roughage content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct contributions of individual microbial groups and their combinations in rumen fermentation.
- To assess the impact of bacterial, protozoal, and fungal mono- and co-cultures on gas production, methane emission, digestibility, and volatile fatty acid profiles.
- To evaluate these effects under both high and low roughage dietary conditions.
Main Methods:
- In vitro incubation of rumen microbial mono-cultures (bacteria, protozoa, fungi) and co-cultures (bacterial-protozoal, fungal-protozoal, bacterial-fungal).
- Testing was conducted using two distinct diets: high roughage and low roughage.
- Measurements included total gas, methane, digestibility, volatile fatty acids, and microbial counts.
Main Results:
- Bacterial-fungal and bacterial-protozoal co-cultures showed higher total gas and methane production compared to controls.
- Digestibility and total volatile fatty acids were reduced in bacterial-fungal co-cultures across both diets.
- Methanogen populations decreased in bacterial-fungal co-cultures with high roughage and in mono-cultures with high roughage.
- Protozoal mono-cultures significantly lowered digestibility and total volatile fatty acids.
Conclusions:
- Specific microbial interactions, such as bacterial-fungal co-cultures, significantly influence rumen gas and methane output.
- The absence or reduction of certain microbial groups, like protozoa in mono-culture, can negatively impact nutrient digestibility and volatile fatty acid production.
- Defaunation (removal of protozoa) effectively reduces methanogens without substantially altering overall rumen fermentation parameters.
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