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Summary The ruminal disappearance of phytate phosphorus (InsP6-P) from maize grain and rapeseed meal (RSM) was determined in two in vitro studies. In experiment 1, two diets differing in phosphorus (P) and InsP6-P concentration were fed to the donor animals of rumen fluid (diet HP: 0.49% P in dry matter, diet LP: 0.29% P). Maize grain and RSM were incubated in a rumen fluid/saliva mixture for 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. In experiment 2, a diet similar to diet HP was fed, and the rumen fluid was mixed with artificial saliva containing 120 mg inorganic P/l (Pi) or no inorganic P (P0). Maize grain and RSM were incubated with either buffer for 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. Total P (tP) and InsP6 concentration were analysed in the fermenter fluids and feed residues. The disappearance of InsP6-P from maize was completed after 12 h of incubation in both experiments. From RSM, 93% (diet LP) and 99% (diet HP) of the InsP6-P in experiment 1 and 80% (Pi) and 89% (P0) in experiment 2 had disappeared after 24 h of incubation. InsP6-P disappearance was higher when diet HP was fed (maize: 3 and 6 h; RSM: 6 and 24 h of incubation) and when rumen fluid was mixed with buffer P0 (maize: 6 h; RSM: 12 and 24 h of incubation). InsP6-P concentration in the fermenter fluids was higher for maize, but no accumulation of InsP6-P occurred, indicating a prompt degradation of soluble InsP6. These results confirmed the capability of rumen micro-organisms to efficiently degrade InsP6. However, differences between the feedstuffs and diet composition as well as the presence of inorganic P in the in vitro system influenced the degradation process. Further studies are required to understand how these factors affect InsP6 degradation and their respective relevance in vivo.

Compared to grass silage (GS)-, corn silage (CS)-based diets appear to increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) in the rumen. Opposite results for the EMPS obtained in vitro have raised the question of whether an inadequate supply of amino N for microbes might explain the low EMPS. We examined the effects of supplementation with different N sources in CS on the EMPS and microbial populations in vitro. GS and CS were used as substrates for in vitro incubation. CS was non-supplemented or supplemented with urea, mixed amino acids (AA), peptone, or protein to adjust the N content to that of GS. Degradation of organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) revealed a positive effect of all N supplements, except protein. Additionally, N supplementation increased fiber degradation of CS. Peptone primarily stimulated hemicellulolytic activity and urea stimulated cellulolytic activity. The EMPS of CS was improved by all N supplements, with peptone and urea exhibiting the highest increase (57% and 54%, respectively), followed by AA mix (40%) and protein (11%) compared to that of CS alone (111 g microbial CP kg−1 fermented OM). However, the level of EMPS detected with GS (200 g microbial CP kg−1 fermented OM) was not achieved. Protozoal 18S rRNA gene copy numbers were negatively correlated with the EMPS, whereas no correlation was found between total bacteria and the EMPS. A stimulating effect of urea, AA mix, and peptone was detected for Ruminococcus albus and Prevotella bryantii, whereas Fibrobacter succinogenes was inhibited by N supplementation. This indicated that neither the amount of available N nor the N source was the only limiting factor in the low EMPS values of CS in vitro. Information is also provided on the stimulating effects of different N sources on several microbial species in mixed rumen culture.

Here, we examined diurnal changes in the ruminal microbial community and fermentation characteristics of dairy cows fed total mixed rations containing either corn silage (CS) or grass silage (GS) as forage. The rations, which consisted of 52% concentrate and 48% GS or CS, were offered for ad libitum intake over 20 days to three ruminal-fistulated lactating Jersey cows during three consecutive feeding periods. Feed intake, ruminal pH, concentrations of short chain fatty acids and ammonia in rumen liquid, as well as abundance change in the microbial populations in liquid and solid fractions, were monitored in 4-h intervals on days 18 and 20. The abundance of total bacteria and Fibrobacter succinogenes increased in solids in cows fed CS instead of GS, and that of protozoa increased in both solid and liquid fractions. Feeding GS favored numbers of F. succinogenes and Selenomonas ruminantium in the liquid fraction as well as the numbers of Ruminobacter amylophilus, Prevotella bryantii and ruminococci in both fractions. Minor effects of silage were detected on populations of methanogens. Despite quantitative changes in the composition of the microbial community, fermentation characteristics were less affected by forage source. These results suggest a functional adaptability of the ruminal microbiota to total mixed rations containing either GS or CS as the source of forage. Diurnal changes in microbial populations were primarily affected by feed intake and differed between species and fractions, with fewer temporal fluctuations evident in the solid than in the liquid fraction. Interactions between forage source and sampling time were of minor importance to most of the microbial species examined. Thus, diurnal changes of microbial populations and fermentative activity were less affected by the two silages.