In vitro fermentation of fibrous substrates by water buffalo ruminal cellulolytic bacteria consortia

Objective. To measure the in vitro fermentation variables of a cellulolytic bacteria consortium (CBC) isolated from a water buffalo rumen in coculture with total ruminal bacteria (TRB) on two fibrous substrates. Materials and methods. A CBC was isolated from the ruminal fluid of a female water buffalo in selective cellulolytic media. The experimental design was completely random with a 3x2 factorial arrangement; factors were treatments [TRB, CBC, and coculture (TRB + CBC)] and substrates (cobra grass and corn stover). Total gas and methane (CH4) production were measured at different time intervals. At 72 h, measurements were taken of pH, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), dry matter degradation (DMD), neutral detergent fiber degradation (NDFD) and total bacteria population. Results. Gas production with both substrates was highest (p≤0.05) in the coculture at 3, 6 and 24 h. At 48 and 72 h, gas production in the cobra grass was highest (p≤0.05) in the coculture. The coculture and TRB did not differ (p>0.05) in terms of CH4, DMD and NDFD values at 48 and 72 h. With the cobra grass, NH3-N concentration was higher (p≤0.05) in the coculture than in the TRB. Conclusions. The gas production and dry matter degradation values of the water buffalo rumen cellulolytic bacteria consortia indicate them to be a promising alternative for improving cobra grass structural carbohydrates degradation when in coculture with bovine ruminal bacteria.