Regulation of metabolic disorders and animal nutrition in relation to rumen microbiota
2019
Kobayashi, Y. (Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido (Japan). Research Faculty of Agriculture)
Ruminants represented by cattle possess the huge foregut "rumen" as a fermentation chamber in which dense and diverse microbial ecosystem is developed to digest fibrous materials. The rumen fermentation allows to supply short chain fatty acid as an energy source and microbes as a protein source for host animals. This mutual association between rumen microbes and host animal is regarded as one of the most ultimate symbiotic relationships in the nature. The microbial ecosystem is relatively stable, while recent feeding system aiming at high animal production tends to disturb and/or destroy the ecosystem. This causes abnormal rumen fermentation leading to metabolic disorders such as bloat and acidosis, which eventually depress animal production efficiency. Bloat and acidosis are closely associated with increase and/or decrease in ruminal abundance of specific group of rumen microbe that might be a cause of these disorders. Therefore, for the regulation of these disorders, it is important to re-stabilize rumen microbial ecosystem. Various feed additives have been proposed for such purpose and some of such additives are functional not only for preventing these disorders but also for improving animal nutrition status. Past and current situations regarding these issues are described.
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