Effects of Defaunation on Rumen Fermentation Characteristics, Feed Intake, Digestibility and Animal Performance: A Review

Abstract

The objective of the review was to provide compiled information on the effects of defaunation on rumen fermentation characteristics, feed intake, digestibility and animal performance for development workers, researchers and other interested readers. Defaunation is the selective removal of protozoa from the rumen of animals. Based on the most of information reviewed defaunation decreases rumen pH, ruminal ammonia concentration, methane emissions, fibre carbohydrate digestibility and organic matter digestibility, and it increases total volatile fatty acids concentration, numbers of bacteria, feed conversion efficiency and weight gain but it did not affect dry matter intake.

Keywords: Bacteria, Fibre, Organic matter, Protozoa, Weight gain