Deciphering Hyperammonia-Producing Bacteria (HAB) in the Rumen of Water Buffaloes () and Their Inhibition through Plant Extracts and Essential Oils.

Hyperammonia-producing bacteria (HAB) are a class of microbes present in the stomach of ruminants, responsible for the rapid rate of ammonia production from protein degradation beyond the capacity of these animals for their utilization. Thus, ruminant nutritionists are interested in decreasing ruminal protein degradation and ammonia genesis by focusing on controlling the activity of HAB. The investigations of the present study were carried out to determine predominant hyperammonia-producing bacteria in the rumen of buffaloes, their isolation and characterization, as well as the inhibition of these isolates with various sources of plant secondary compounds (tannins, saponins, and essential oils).

Reducing Ruminal Ammonia Production With Improvement in Feed Utilization Efficiency and Performance of Murrah Buffalo () Through Dietary Supplementation of Plant-Based Feed Additive Blend.

The study evaluated the potential of blends of eucalyptus oil and aqueous extract of mulethi (root of ) to reduce rate of ruminal ammonia production without affecting feed digestion to improve nitrogen utilization efficiency and performance of Murrah buffalo (). Based on preliminary independent studies with graded doses of eucalyptus oil and mulethi root aqueous extract in modulating rumen fermentation, four blends of feed additive comprising graded doses (5, 10, 15, and 25 μL) of eucalyptus oil and a fixed quantity (15 μL) of aqueous extract of mulethi roots were prepared and examined for their effects on rumen fermentation and on methane and gas production in 100-mL calibrated glass syringes by standard IVGP protocol. Rumen liquor was collected from four rumen fistulated Murrah buffaloes fed a total mixed ration.