Factors That Alter Rumen Microbial Ecology

作者：James B. Russell, Jennifer L. Rychlik · 发表于：Science · 年份：2001 · DOI：10.1126/science.1058830 · 被引用次数：981 · 研究领域：Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Plant and fungal interactions

Ruminant animals and ruminal microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship that facilitates fiber digestion, but domestic ruminants in developed countries are often fed an abundance of grain and little fiber. When ruminants are fed fiber-deficient rations, physiological mechanisms of homeostasis are disrupted, ruminal pH declines, microbial ecology is altered, and the animal becomes more susceptible to metabolic disorders and, in some cases, infectious disease. Some disorders can be counteracted by feed additives (for example, antibiotics and buffers), but these additives can alter the composition of the ruminal ecosystem even further.