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An Artificial Rumen Technique for Studying Rumen Digestion In Vivo¹

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan

Abstract

An in vivo artificial rumen technique for studying utilization of cellulose and other nutrients by rumen microorganisms has been developed in an effort more closely to simulate, under controlled conditions, rumen function. The in vivo artificial rumen consists of a porcelain test tube attached to a glass frothing tube and gas escape mechanism. The substrates and inocula are placed in the tube and the apparatus suspended in the rumen of a fistulated animal. The tubes were found to be permeable to fatty acids (C₂ to C₆ tested) and glucose but not permeable to bacteria. Using this in vivo artificial rumen technique no cellulose was ever decomposed in non-inoculated tubes placed in the rumen. In inoculated tubes the digestion of 500 mg. of cellulose was completed in about 48 hours. An initial inoculum continuously digested added increments of cellulose at an unabated rate to the extent of about 90% over an extended period of time (10 days). The quantity of the organisms in a diluted inoculum increased during1 active cellulose digestion.

¹ Contribution No. 334, Dept. of Bacteriology, and No. 258, Dept. of Dairy Husbandry.

² Department of Bacteriology.

³ Department of Dairy Husbandry.

⁴ Coors T35 fired to cone 04—Coors Porcelain Company, Golden, Colorado.