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Microbial Rumen Fermentation

Departments of Animal Science, and Dairy Science, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

ABSTRACT

Introduction

With the ruminant animal, we have essentially two ecosystems, namely, the microbial ecosystem within the rumen and the animal's external environment. In dealing with the microbial ecosystem, we have made significant strides in the last few decades toward accomplishing the overall goal of ecology, which is to understand the relationships of organisms to their environments. As pointed out by Hungate (47), a complete ecological analysis of any natural habitat requires an elaboration of: 1) kinds and numbers of organisms, 2) activities of the organisms, and 3) extent to which their activities are expressed. Within the last 25 yr, much information has been gained in the first two aspects of the ecological analysis. Currently we are just beginning to address the third aspect.

The rumen is an ideal fermentation site. In most ruminant species, the rumen is approximately one-seventh of the mass of the animal, is maintained at a relatively constant temperature (39° C), is buffered well by salivary secretions, and compared to many other microbial ecosystems is well supplied with nutrients.

¹ Department of Animal Science.

² Department of Dairy Science.

⁴ Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850.