Effects of aspergillus oryzae extract (amaferm) on ruminal fibrolytic bacteria and in vitro fiber degradation
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
A. A. Beharka
Tiruvoor G. Nagaraja
Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr Part of the Dairy Science Commons Recommended Citation Beharka, A. A. and Nagaraja, Tiruvoor G. (1991) "Effects of aspergillus oryzae extract (amaferm) on ruminal fibrolytic bacteria and in vitro fiber degradation," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research
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Effects of aspergillus oryzae extract (amaferm) on ruminal fibrolytic bacteria and
in vitro fiber degradation
The effect of Amaferm on growth of pure cultures of ruminal cellulose-digesting, hemicellulose- digesting
and pectin-digesting bacteria was determined. The addition of Amaferm to the growth medium increased
the growth of Ruminococcus albus and Fibrobacter succinogenes. Amaferm had no effect on the growth
of the other bacteria. Additionally, selective antimicrobial compounds were used to assess the influence
of Amaferm on microbial contributions to in vitro fiber degradation. Amaferm appeared to stimulate fiber
digestibility of only certain feedstuffs, and this increase in digestibility was attributed to its stimulation of
bacterial activity. Amaferm did not appear to stimulate fungal activity.; Dairy Day, 1991, Kansas State
University, Manhattan, KS, 1991;
Diary Day, 1991; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 92-175-S; Report of progress
(Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station); 640; Dairy; Rumen; Fungal; Microbial feed additive; Growth; Fiber
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https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol0/iss2/43
A. A. Beharka and T. G. Nagaraja
Summary
The effect of Amaferm on growth of pure
cultures of ruminal cellulose-digesting,
hemicellulose-digesting and pectin-digesting
bacteria was determined. The addition of Amaferm to
the growth medium increased the growth of
Ruminococcus albus and Fibrobacter
succinogenes. Amaferm had no effect on the growth of
the other bacteria. Additionally, selective
antimicrobial compounds were used to assess the
influence of Amaferm on microbial contributions
to in vitro fiber degradation. Amaferm appeared
to stimulate fiber digestibility of only certain
feedstuffs, and this increase in digestibility was
attributed to its stimulation of bacterial activity.
Amaferm did not appear to stimulate fungal
activity.
(Key Words: Rumen, Fungal, Microbial Feed
Additive, Growth, Fiber.)
Introduction
Reports on the use of fungal supplements in
ruminant diets date back to 1924. However,
results of those early studies were inconclusive.
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in
the use of microbial products as feed additives in
ruminant diets, partly because of concerns about
antibiotics. Microbial feed additives contain
either the microorganisms, the dry products of
microorganisms, the medium in which they grew,
and/or the residues of their metabolism. The
microorganisms used are yeast, molds, and/or
bacteria. Because microbial products are not
identical in composition, mode of action differs
between products, and considerable variation in
animal performance has been reported.
One of several fungal products commercially
available is Amaferm®, a fermentation extract of
the mold Aspergillus oryzae.The addition of
Amaferm or products containing Amaferm have
been reported to increase digestion of dry matter,
fiber, and crude protein in vivo and in vitro. In
our studies with newborn calves, Amaferm
supplementation was shown to increase ruminal
microbial activity, as evidenced by increased
VFA concentration and bacterial numbers,
particularly those of fiber-digesting bacteria. The
increased microbial activity was associated with
increased dry feed consumption in some calves
and earlier weaning. Similar increases in intake
have been reported in cattle and are probably the
consequence of increased rate of fiber digestion
in Amaferm-supplemented animals. It has been
proposed that fungal supplementation may
increase the nutritive value of feedstuffs by
increasing the digestion of dietary fiber.
Little work has been done on the effect of
Amaferm supplementation on the ruminal
protoz (...truncated)