Factors affecting the concentration and cellulolytic activity of sheep rumen fungi

摘要

Fungalconcentrationsweredeterminedinasheepfeditsdailyrationatthreedifferentfeedingfrequencies,once(1x),six(6x)andtwenty-four(24x)timesaday.nbsp;Concomitantly,ateachsamplingtimeinvitrocellulolyticactivitywasmeasured.nbsp;Fungalnumberswereaffectedbyfeedingfrequencywiththehighestconcentrationsoccurringwith6xfeedingperday.nbsp;Cellulosedigestionwasincreasedatallfeedingfrequencieswhentheinsolublefractionofrumenfluidwasaddedtothebasalfermentationmedium.nbsp;Neitherfungalnumbersnorfeedingfrequencywerecorrelatedwithcellulosedigestioninvitro;however,afeedingfrequencyxmediuminteractionwasobserved.nbsp;Theresultssuggestanequilibriumexistsintherumenbetweenaninhibitoryfactor(s)andgrowthfactor(s)whichservestocontrolfungalconcentrations.nbsp;