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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75903
Title: THE EFFECT OF NISIN AND MONENSIN ON RUMINAL FERMENTATIONS IN VITRO

Author
item CALLAWAY, TODD - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item CARNEIRO DE MELO, ALEXANDRA - KINGS COLLEGE, LONDON
item Russell, James

Submitted to: Current Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Monensin has been used as feed additive for more than 20 years, and it has routinely modified ruminal fermentation and increased the feed efficiency of cattle. Monensin is, howeve,r a relatively toxic compound. Concentrations 3 times the recommended dose can decrease the food intake of cattle, and even small amounts kill horses. This latter property is a problem in the feed industry. Feed equipment exposed to monensin must be thoroughly cleaned before it can be used for horse feed. Nisin is a bacteriocin that is produced by Lactococcus lactis, a starter culture for cheese making. Nisin is not toxic and has been approved by the FDA for use in human foods. Because nisin was as potent as monensin in modifying ruminal fermentation in vitro, bacteriocins like nisin have potential as feed additives.

Technical Abstract: When mixed ruminal bacteria and small feed particles were incubated in vitro, monensin and nisin both inhibited methane production. Starch- digesting ruminal bacteria were initially inhibited by monensin and nisin, but this effect disappeared after 2 to 4 transfers. Nisin inhibited cellulolytic bacteria, but the nisin-dependent inhibition of cellulose digestion was no greater than the inhibition caused by monensin. Monensin and nisin also inhibited amino acid degradation, and nisin was more effective than monensin in controlling the growth of Clostridium arminophilum, an obligate amino acid-fermenting ruminal bacterium that can tolerate low concentrations of monensin. Based on the observation that nisin was as potent as monensin in modifying ruminal fermentation in vitro, bacteriocins like nisin have potential as feed additives.