The effect of ciliate protozoa on the turnover of bacterial and fungal protien in the rumen of sheep

A four‐fold increase (P < 0.001) in the total bacterial population in the rumen of sheep was observed following defaunation. A two‐fold (P > 0.05) increase in the anacrobic fungal population was also observed. Defaunation caused a 10‐fold (P < 0.001) reduction in the rate of protein turnover of Selenomonas rurninantium protein in vitro. However, only a two‐fold reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in the rate of protein turnover of the rumen fungi Piromonas communis, Neocallimastix patriciarum and N. frontalis. It was concluded that although protozoa may play an important role in the turnover of fungal protein in the rumen, they have a greater role in the turnover of bacterial protein.