Resumen

HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ, David et al. Poblaciones microbianas y fermentación en el ciego de conejos en crecimiento alimentados con inóculos de bacterias cecales . INCI [online]. 2004, vol.29, n.8, pp.442-446. ISSN 0378-1844.

In order to evaluate the effect of two bacterial inocula isolated from the cecum on cecal fermentation and total feed digestibility in growing rabbits, a growth essay was carried out with 60 New Zealand White rabbits of 38 days of age, with three treatments: T1= commercial diet (control); T2= T1 plus Clostridium sordellii inoculum; T3= T1 plus Peptostreptococcus tetradius inoculum. A concentration of 75×10⁷ bacteria per gram of dry matter (DM) was used. In vivo digestibility was evaluated at the 3^rd and 5^th weeks. At 77 days of age the animals were sacrificed and samples collected from the cecal appendix (AC), 13^th cecal loop (TAC) and distal colon (CD), so as to determine total bacterial concentration (BT) and cellulolitic bacteria (BC), pH, NH₄ and volatile fatty acids (AGV). No changes were observed (p<0.05) in the first digestibility essay, but in the second essay P. tetradius increased (p<0.05) DM, neutral and acid detergent fiber digestibility. BC concentration increased (p<0.05) in cecum and CD. The pH was not affected but cecal NH₄ was reduced (p<0.05) with P. tetradius. AVG concentration increased (p<0.01) in the cecum by the use of inocula. Changes in DM and fiber digestibility were related to the increase in microbial populations in cecum and colon of rabbits receiving bacterial inocula, which explains the reduction in NH₄ and the AGV increase.

Palabras clave : Bacterias Cecales; Conejos en Crecimiento; Digestibilidad; Fermentación Cecal; Inóculos Bacterianos.