Reduce Reuse ReRumen: Preservation method of rumen fluid collected from slaughtered cattle affects in vitro digestibility
Conference Paper
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
AbstractMicrobes and chemical constituents in the rumen fluid play an important role when re-establishing the rumen microbial population. Identification of a viable preservation method could have lasting implication of veterinary and research applications. Our objective was to determine the efficacy of preservation methods on rumen liquor. Twelve paunch samples were collected from slaughtered cattle at the Tarleton State University Meat Laboratory, Stephenville, TX. Rumen content was collected from different locations within the rumen, strained through eight layers of cheesecloth, and divided into five 500-mL aliquots. Aliquots were randomly allocated to one of five preservation methods (freezing or lyophilisation) and preservative (glycerol; yes or no). A fresh control was maintained from each sample. Three reference feeds and two roughage sources were used in the batch culture procedure. Reference feeds were dried to a constant weight at 55C and ground to pass through a 2-mm screen. Ground samples were subjected to batch culture in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) assays using each of the four ruminal fluids (plus the control) for digestibility estimates. Original samples and incubated residues were assayed for DM, CP, NDF, and ADF. Data were analyzed in a 2 2 + 1 augmented factorial design using GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in IVTD when using protein or energy feeds; however, there were differences in IVTD for all treatments for fiber concentrates and forage reference feeds. Despite lower degradation of feeds when frozen or lyophilized rumen fluid was used, preserved rumen fluid may be a viable option in the absence of fresh inoculum for veterinary and research applications
