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Isolation of Saponin-Digesting Bacteria from the Rumen of Bloating Cattle on Ladino Clover Pasture

United States Department of Agriculture^,2

Abstract

Saponin-utilizing bacteria were isolated from the rumens of eight bloating steers, one non-bloater and one penicillin treated bloater. The bacterial strains varied in their capacity of slime production when incubated with alfalfa saponins, and the cultural characteristics of the bacteria indicated that they were similar to previously described Butyrivibrio strains from the rumen of cattle. The slimy residue in the saponin bacterial cultures did not resemble the slime fraction which had previously been isolated from the rumen of steers bloating on a high grain ration. Slime production from saponins by rumen bacteria may explain artificial bloat induced in animals by feeding large quantities of the saponins, but this phenomenon may not necessarily occur in animals which are grazing since the release of the compounds from the whole plant would be slower. It is suggested that investigations of factors which increase the viscosity of the rumen fluid may be profitable in bloat research.

¹ The authors wish to thank C. B. Shawver, L. W. Williams, F. W. Rothwell, from Mississippi State University for assistance and C. R. Thompson and G. R. Van Atta, Western Utilization Research and Development Division, for the legume saponins used in these experiments.

² Beef Cattle Research Branch, AHRD, ARS, ARC, Beltsville, Maryland.