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Composition of the Ruminal Flora and Establishment of Ruminal Ciliated Protozoal Species in Isolated Calves

U.S. Department of Agriculture and North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58102

Abstract

Ruminal ciliated protozoal (RCP)-free calves of different breeds and sexes were reared up to 833 days of age in isolation stalls. RCP-free calves at 60 to 285 days were faunated with a single inoculation of RCP-species by esophageal drench. Established RCP-species included Isotricha prostoma, I. intestinalis, Entodinium simplex, E. caudatum and E. bursa. These single species were maintained in rumen contents of the isolated calves for 370 to 420 days, at which time the calves were run with mature ruminants. RCP-free calves ranging from 78 to 280 days of age contained viable ruminal bacterial counts of anaerobes and aerobic-facultative anaerobic bacteria similar to RCP-faunated calves. Differential viable ruminal bacterial counts in RCP-free calves, ranging from 5 days to 34 weeks, included: anaerobically cultured hemolytics, lactate-fermenters and lipolytics (esterolytics); and aerobically cultured acidurics-acidopholics, coliforms, hemolytics, lactobacilli and non-lactose fermenters. As the calves matured the ruminal bacterial populations shifted to levels comparable to mature ruminants. Cellulolytic bacteria were observed in calves 5 days of age. These data indicated that single species of ruminal entodiniomorphs and holotrichs could be established in the rumens of isolated calves.

¹ Animal Science Research Division, ARS, Metabolism and Radiation Research Laboratory, Fargo, North Dakota 58102.

² Department of Animal Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58102.

³ The authors wish to express appreciation to Mary Clare Helgeson for technical assistance and to Maurice C. Bush and Daniel J. Cottrell for caring for the animals.

⁴ Reference to a company or product name does not imply approval or recommendation of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.