Amino Acid Composition of Rumen Organisms

Abstract

Amino acid analyses were made of 22 strains of rumen bacteria grown in pure culture. The organisms used were selected to represent some of the predominant organisms found in the rumen when either concentrates or roughages are fed. The amino acid results expressed as grams per 100 g total amino acids showed very little variation over the entire range of organisms analyzed, thus supporting the hypothesis that the amino acid composition of the bacterial protein presented to the host for digestion is relatively constant, irrespective of the composition of the diet. These amino acid distributions and the amino acid distribution of a preparation of protozoal protein showed good agreement with results of previous reports of analyses of preparations of rumen microbial proteins. © 1966, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.