Effects of supplementing corn silage with different nitrogen sources on ruminal fermentation and microbial populations in vitro.

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.

Changes in Rumen Microbial Community Composition during Adaption to an In Vitro System and the Impact of Different Forages.

This study examined ruminal microbial community composition alterations during initial adaption to and following incubation in a rumen simulation system (Rusitec) using grass or corn silage as substrates. Samples were collected from fermenter liquids at 0, 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h and from feed residues at 0, 24, and 48 h after initiation of incubation (period 1) and on day 13 (period 2). Microbial DNA was extracted and real-time qPCR was used to quantify differences in the abundance of protozoa, methanogens, total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminobacter amylophilus, Prevotella bryantii, Selenomonas ruminantium, and Clostridium aminophilum.