Use of bean husk as an easily digestible fiber source for activating the fibrolytic rumen bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes and rice straw digestion

• Published in: Animal science journal Vol. 83; no. 10; pp. 696 - 703
• Main Authors: FUMA, Ryosuke, OYAIZU, Shinya, NUKUI, Yoko, NGWE, Tin, SHINKAI, Takumi, KOIKE, Satoshi, KOBAYASHI, Yasuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.10.2012; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animal sciences; Animals; Bacteria; bean husks; Dietary Fiber; Digestion; easily digestible fiber; Feeds; Fibrobacter - physiology; Fibrobacter succinogenes; Oryza; rice straw; rumen; Rumen - microbiology; Sheep; Sheep - physiology; Soy Foods
• ISSN: 1344-3941; 1740-0929
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2012.01017.x

ABSTRACT A series of in sacco and in vitro studies were carried out to evaluate bean husks for activation of fibrolytic rumen bacteria and rice straw digestion. First, lablab bean husk, chickpea husk and rice straw were suspended in the rumen of sheep to analyze the bacterial consortium developed on each fiber source. Known members of fiber‐associating bacteria were found on both lablab bean husk and rice straw, but some of these bacteria were lacking on chickpea husk. Second, a pure culture study was carried out using six strains of Fibrobacter succinogenes. Both husks stimulated the growth of all tested strains, including a strain that did not grow on rice straw. The strain OS128 that showed the highest growth on rice straw displayed even higher growth on lablab bean husk without a time lag. Finally, two‐step incubations were carried out to determine whether prior incubation of rumen fluid with husks stimulates subsequent rice straw digestion. Higher digestibility of rice straw was recorded in the second‐round incubation following the first incubation with bean husks. These results suggest that the tested bean husks improve the digestion of rice straw by activating fibrolytic F. succinogenes and other associated bacteria.