This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Varel, V H Articles by Pond, W G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Varel, V H Articles by Pond, W G Agricola Articles by Varel, V H Articles by Pond, W G

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 April; 49(4): 858-862

Enumeration and activity of cellulolytic bacteria from gestating swine fed various levels of dietary fiber.

V H Varel and W G Pond

ABSTRACT

Cellulolytic bacteria were enumerated and cellulase activity was determined over a 98-day period from fecal samples of gestating swine fed various levels and sources of fiber. The diets, each fed to five pigs, were a corn-soybean control, 20% corn cobs, and 40 and 96% alfalfa meal. Fecal samples were collected from all pigs on days 0, 5, 14, 21, 35, 49, 70, and 98. Overall, the most probable number of cellulolytic bacteria from pigs fed the control, 20% corn cobs, and 40 and 96% alfalfa meal was 23.3 X 10(8), 15.2 X 10(8), 45.1 X 10(8), and 52.5 X 10(8) per g (dry weight) of fecal sample, respectively. Enumeration of cellulolytic bacteria by counting zones of clearing in roll tubes, as compared with the most probable number procedure, accounted for only 1.1 and 17.0% of the cellulolytic bacteria, respectively, from pigs fed the control or 96% alfalfa meal diet. Cellulolytic bacteria (most probable number) on days 70 and 98 accounted for 4.1 and 10.0% of the viable count for the pigs fed the control and 96% alfalfa meal diets, respectively. The viable count was not different between pigs fed the control and 96% alfalfa meal diets. The overall mean cellulolytic activity (milligrams of glucose released from carboxymethyl cellulose per gram [dry weight] fecal sample per 30 min was 17.0, 19.9, 23.8, and 20.6, respectively, for the control, 20% corn cobs, and 40 and 96% alfalfa meal diets. The results indicate that the cellulolytic flora can be increased by prolonged feeding of high-fiber diets and may represent 10% of the culturable flora.

---

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1985 April; 49(4): 858-862

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Renteria-Flores, J. A., Johnston, L. J., Shurson, G. C., Gallaher, D. D. (2008). Effect of soluble and insoluble fiber on energy digestibility, nitrogen retention, and fiber digestibility of diets fed to gestating sows. J ANIM SCI 86: 2568-2575 [Abstract] [Full Text]