Dynamics of enzymatic activity development in the adherent rumen microflora

In lambs in the period of a milk nutrition, the enzymatic activities of the rumen wall microflora: cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4), beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.73), alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), urease (EC 3.5.1.3) and neutral protease have been investigated. For comparison's sake, the enzymatic of adherent microflora of the caecal wall ahs been observed, too. It was found that the functionally latent rumen of lambs contained adherent bacteria with cellulase and beta-glucanase activities which reached their maximum on the 30th day of life. The alpha-amylase and protease activities of the epimural rumen microflora reached their maximum already on the 20th day of life. Contrarily, the urease activity reached its maximum only on the 40th day of life. The results show that already from the 10th day after birth, the rumen of young ruminants has a relatively high microbial enzymatic activity.