Digestion in defaunated and refaunated sheep fed soybean oil hydrolysate or crushed toasted soybeans

Abstract

Defaunated then refaunated sheep were given diets containing soyabean oil hydrolysate (SOH: 70 g/day) or an equivalent amount of lipids administered as crushed toasted soyabeans (TSB). Defaunation increased molar percentage of propionate in the rumen, while butyrate decreased. SOH caused a similar effect in both the defaunated and refaunated rumen, while the effect on acetate proportions was variable. Protozoal counts were lower after feeding SOH. Crushed toasted soyabeans had a minor effect on rumen fermentation pattern. Rumen digestibility of organic matter was decreased by both defaunation and SOH feeding, with a concomitant shift in digestion to the lower intestinal tract. Total tract digestibility was not affected. Both treatments increased nonammonia N flows at the duodenum, but this was only significant with defaunation. Total tract digestion of N remained almost constant. Defaunation resulted in more microbial protein reaching the duodenum. Except for the TSB diet, total lipid leaving the rumen equalled intake. Total tract digestibility of total lipid was much higher with SOH and TSB than with controls. Defaunation almost doubled microbial growth efficiency and this value tended to increase by SOH feeding. The decrease of protozoal count or even elimination of protozoa after lipid feeding could not entirely explain the change in rumen metabolism, as additional changes in defaunated sheep were shown.