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Influence of Protozoa upon Rumen Acid Production and Liveweight Gains in Lambs^{1, 2,}

Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames

Abstract

Protozoa-free lambs were inoculated in the rumen with different types of protozoa (Entodinium, Diplodinium, Isotricha, Ophryoscolex and a combination of the four types). Following protozoal establishment, comparisons were made with protozoa-free lambs with respect to feedlot performance and various rumen measurements including pH, ammonia, total volatile fatty acids and ratios between rumen acids.

Faunated lambs gained more rapidly and efficiently than protozoa-free animals. Rumen pH was also lower, and fatty acid and ammonia levels were higher in the inoculated lambs. A narrower acetate-propionate ratio was observed in rumen ingesta from faunated as compared with protozoa-free lambs. Inoculation with single types of protozoa resulted in rumen changes approaching those observed when the inoculum included all four protozoal types.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-4671 of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1526, Contributing Project to Regional Project NC-63.

² The studies and observations reported in this paper were supported in part by the Rockefeller Foundation.