Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 44 (2004) 313-319
DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2004036

Effect of anaerobic fungi on in vitro feed digestion by mixed rumen microflora of buffalo

Shyam Sunder Paul^a, Devki Nandan Kamra^b, Vadali Rama Bhadra Sastry^b, Narottam Prasad Sahu^c and Neeta Agarwal<sup>b

a</sup>  Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Nabha 147201, Patiala, India
^b  Microbiology Section, Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122, India
^c  Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai-400 061, India

(Received 4 August 2003; accepted 15 March 2004)

Abstract - Five strains of anaerobic fungi isolated from the faeces of wild (hog deer, Cervus porcinus; blackbuck, Antelope cervicapra; spotted deer, Axis axis; nilgai, Baselophus tragocamelus) and rumen liquor of domestic (sheep, Ovies aries) ruminants showing high fibrolytic enzyme producing ability were added to mixed rumen microflora of buffalo to study their effect on the digestibility of lignocellulosic feed (wheat straw and wheat bran in the ratio of 80:20), enzyme production and fermentation end products in in vitro conditions. Among the 5 isolates studied, FNG5 (isolated from nilgai) showed the highest stimulating effect on apparent digestibility (35.31 ± 1.61% vs. 28.61 ± 1.55%; P < 0.05), true digestibility (43.64 ± 1.73% vs. 35.37 ± 1.65%; P < 0. 01), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (29.30 ± 2.58% vs. 18.47 ± 2.12; P < 0.01) of feed 24 h after inoculation compared to the control group. The production of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase, acetyl esterase and -glucosidase was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the FNG5 inoculated incubation medium. There was no improvement in the digestibility and enzyme production on the addition of the other 4 isolates. Total volatile fatty acid levels as well as the concentration of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate and valerate were significantly higher in the FNG5 added group as compared to the control group. The fungal isolate FNG5 from nilgai, a wild ruminant, was found to be superior to the other isolates tested and appears to have a potential to be used as a feed additive for improving fiber degradation in domestic ruminants.

Key words: rumen fungus / digestion / wild animals / enzyme / buffalo / rumen microflora / Piromyces sp.

Corresponding author: Devki Nandan Kamra kamra@ivri.up.nic.in

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004