Ability of pH-Selected Mixed Ruminal Microbial Populations to Digest Fiber at Various pHs

Inocula from pH 5.5-selected rumen microorganisms failed to digest fiber any better in batch culture at pH 5.0 or 5.5 than did inocula from pH 6.5-selected organisms. Furthermore, upon extended batch incubation, both the viable cellulolytic and amylolytic bacteria became increasingly associated with the fiber portion and less with the liquid portion of the cultures.