Ruminal Fermentation

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Metabolism, Physiology & Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 1292

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Unaí, Brazil
Interests: alternative additives; antimicrobials; beef and dairy cattle; composition of ruminal microbiota; deamination; nitrogen metabolism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The success of ruminant animals is associated with their ability to digest fiber-rich plant material. Although ruminants do not secrete digestive enzymes in the rumen, a number of various microorganisms, including bacteria, methanogenic archaea, anaerobic fungi, and protozoa, which live in symbiosis with the host, are capable of performing ruminal fermentation and hydrolyzing soluble and insoluble carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids from the diet.

Ruminal fermentation is the result of the balance of interactions among the different species of microorganisms present in the rumen. It is the outcome of microbiological activities responsible for converting food components (carbohydrates and nitrogen) into products used in animal metabolism, such as volatile organic acids (VOAs), microbial proteins, and B vitamins. This process also produces substances not utilized by the animal (CH4 and CO2), which are physiologically eliminated and represent energy losses.

The proportion and quantity of by-products resulting from the ruminal fermentation process depend on various factors, such as the type of feed, the manner in which the feed is offered, balanced diets, the use of feed additives, as well as physiological factors related to the ruminal environment, such as temperature, pH, and redox potential.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish both recent innovative research results and review papers that assess ruminal fermentation both in vitro and in vivo using different strategies aimed not only at improving the health and performance of ruminants but also at playing a role in mitigating climate change by reducing ammonia production and greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane. If you would like to contribute a review paper, please contact one of the editors to discuss the topic's relevance before submitting the manuscript.

Prof. Dr. Cláudia Braga Pereira Bento
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ammoniacal nitrogen
  • animal nutrition
  • antimicrobials
  • enteric methane
  • environmental impact
  • feed additives
  • feed efficiency
  • next-generation sequencing
  • rumen parameters
  • ruminal microbiota
  • ruminants

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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12 pages, 630 KiB  
Article
Ferulic Acid and Clinoptilolite Affect In Vitro Rumen Fermentation Characteristics and Bacterial Abundance
by Ana Tánori-Lozano, M. Ángeles López-Baca, Adriana Muhlia-Almazán, Maricela Montalvo-Corral, Araceli Pinelli-Saavedra, Thalia Y. Islava-Lagarda, José Luis Dávila-Ramírez, Martín Valenzuela-Melendres and Humberto González-Rios
Fermentation 2024, 10(11), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10110549 - 26 Oct 2024
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Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of clinoptilolite (CTL) and ferulic acid (FA) supplementation on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, gas production, and bacterial abundance. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design (FA: 0 or 300 ppm; CTL: 0 or 1%) [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effects of clinoptilolite (CTL) and ferulic acid (FA) supplementation on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, gas production, and bacterial abundance. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design (FA: 0 or 300 ppm; CTL: 0 or 1%) with repeated measures over time (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h). Throughout the incubation period, the CTL and FAZ treatments recorded the highest pH values (p ≤ 0.05), maintaining levels closest to neutrality after 72 h. After 48 and 72 h, FA and CTL decreased (p ≤ 0.05) the ammonia concentrations while increasing (p ≤ 0.05) acetate and propionate. The methane, butyrate, and iso-VFA concentrations were unaffected (p > 0.05) by any treatment. FA increased the total gas production throughout the experimental period (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, FA and CTL significantly reduced the relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus and Streptococcus bovis (p ≤ 0.05), while no significant effects were observed for Selenomonas ruminantium (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that both additives can positively modify the rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial composition, which could significantly contribute to animal nutrition by providing a promising strategy for enhancing rumen fermentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminal Fermentation)
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7 pages, 223 KiB  
Opinion
Impacts of Slow-Release Urea in Ruminant Diets: A Review
by Szu-Wei Ma and Antonio P. Faciola
Fermentation 2024, 10(10), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10100527 - 17 Oct 2024
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Abstract
The increasing costs of traditional protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM), have prompted interest in alternative feeds for ruminants. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources, like urea, offer a cost-effective alternative by enabling rumen microorganisms to convert NPN into microbial protein, which is crucial [...] Read more.
The increasing costs of traditional protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM), have prompted interest in alternative feeds for ruminants. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources, like urea, offer a cost-effective alternative by enabling rumen microorganisms to convert NPN into microbial protein, which is crucial for ruminant nutrition. However, the rapid hydrolysis of urea in the rumen can result in excessive ammonia (NH3) production and potential toxicity. Slow-release urea (SRU) has been developed to mitigate these issues by gradually releasing nitrogen, thereby improving nutrient utilization and reducing NH3 toxicity risks. This review explores SRU’s development, types, mechanisms, and benefits, highlighting its potential to enhance ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and overall feed efficiency. SRU formulations include polymer-coated urea, lipid-coated urea, calcium-urea, starea, and zeolite-impregnated urea, each designed to control nitrogen release and minimize adverse effects. Studies have demonstrated that SRU can improve microbial nitrogen efficiency and reduce nitrogen losses, although results regarding feed intake, digestibility, and milk yield are mixed. These discrepancies indicate that factors such as SRU type, diet formulation, and animal breed may influence outcomes. Continued research is essential to optimize SRU applications, aiming to enhance ruminant production, economic viability, and environmental stewardship. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminal Fermentation)
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