Effects of Different Juncus acutus: Maize Silage Ratios on Digestibility and Rumen Cellulolytic Bacteria

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to estimate the digestibility of different ratios of Juncus acutus and maize silage and to investigate the effects of them on rumen bacteria. Three different ratios of Juncus acutus and maize silage 100:0 (A), 50:50 (B) and 0:100 (C) were prepared and their gas productions were determined at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h incubation times by ANKOM (RF) gas production system. OMD%, MEOMD, MEGP, and b values of A, B, C were 42.06, 51.06 and 60.21%; 6.72, 8.16 and 9.63 MJ/kg DM; 5.15, 6.28 and 7.55 MJ/kg DM; 20.85, 35.24 and 48.11 mL respectively. There were significant variations between the chemical composition, gas production, OMD%, MEGP and MEOMD values of A, B and C (P<0.05). Abundance of ruminal bacteria were as following Fibrobacter succinogenes>Ruminococcus flavefaciens>Ruminococcus albus values at all incubation times. In conclusion, mixing of Juncus acutus with maize silage in 50:50 ratio increased the amount of rumen cellulolytic bacteria and 22% of both OMD and ME of Juncus acutus. Supplementation of maize silage to Juncus acutus in ruminant diet may improve the utilization of Juncus acutus through providing of nitrogen and fermentable carbohydrates to rumen bacteria.