Rumen microbial population dynamics in response to photoperiod

AIMS: This work was carried out to determine if there was a difference in the microbial population of the rumen associated with daylength at which sheep are housed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to study the ciliate and bacterial diversity in the rumen of Soay rams kept in long day (16 h light) or short day (8 h light) photoperiods. Bacterial diversity varied according to the daylength conditions where the host animal was housed, as did total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations. No differences associated with daylength were detected in ciliate diversity, branched VFA concentrations or the ruminal ammonia concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: As diets had identical composition, yet voluntary intakes levels were higher during long days, it is proposed that the differences in bacterial populations arise because of the differences in amount of food consumed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The outcome of this study demonstrated that factors beyond dietary composition must be taken into account when trying to study microbial populations, even in what can be considered a fairly constant environment.