Effects of the gender differences in cattle rumen fermentation on anaerobic fermentation of wheat straw

Abstract The rumen anaerobic fermentation has been exploited as a molecular platform for producing fermentative biogas and organic acids. The aim of this study was to select more efficient rumen fermentation bacteria by comparing the nutrient degradation rate, rumen fermentation characteristics and bacterial flora between the bulls and heifers. The rumen fluid from bulls and heifers was inoculated to wheat straw for anaerobic fermentation to produce organic acids and biogas. The results showed that the bulls had higher degradation rate of dietary total solids and acid detergent fiber, and had higher concentration of acetate, butyrate, ammoniacal nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids and total fungi in rumen compared with the heifers (P