Year: 1953
Type: article
Abstract: The microcosm of the bovine rumen is being explored with fervor by an ever-increasing number of bacteriologists. Most of the published investigations in this field have been made since 1940. It is now evident that the importance of studies on the rumen bacterial flora to problems of general interest such as ecology, synergism, antibiosis, and symbiosis is fully realized. Such practical problems as meat and milk production, utilization of feedstuffs, cellulose decomposition, and vitamin and protein synthesis need no further comment to justify exploration. The indigenous bacterial flora of the rumen develops under conditions imposed by this unique and intricately constructed organ. The rumen is anaerobic and the reaction of the contents therein is usually near neutrality; the temperature is 39 ° C., and in most cases cellulosic matter is present in quantity. These conditions might be thought somewhat restrictive on bacterial activity. Actua]ly the total number of viable bacteria is extremely great. A number of physiological types may be present in each of the morpholo~eal groupings of bacteria. The rumen has been compared to a fermentation vat, but it should be considered a much more complex dynamic system. The functions of the rumen bacterial flora are vital to the physiological well-being of the bovine. The problems involved in elucidating the specific role played by various groups of bacteria are difficult to solve. I t should be apparent that in a complex and interacting popnlation the classical methods of pure culture study will yield scant data on the population as a whole. Therefore, the development of additional techniques is indicated. The necessity for a rumen bacterial flora is illustrated particularly well in cellulose digestion. In this instance one of the principal materials of the animal's diet must first be utilized by bacteria, since cellulase is a microbial and not a mammalian enzyme. Other examples of the essentiality of rumen bacteria to the bovine ruminant will appear throughout this review. Various aspects of ruminology have been excellently reviewed. The articles by Elsden and Phillipson (37), Goss (50), Hastings (52), McAnally and Phillipson (81), Marston (92), O'wen (98, 99), Thaysen (122) and Thornton et al. (123) should be consulted. This review will be concerned principally with papers dealing with the bacteriology of the bovine rumen which have been published since 1946. Work has been done on the bacteriology of the sheeep rumen also. Sheep are more amenable to the studies because of greater ease of handling, lower cost, and
Source: Journal of Dairy Science
Authors: Raymond N. Doetsch, Roslyn Q. Robinson
Institution: University of Maryland, College Park
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2008900909