TY - JOUR JO - Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences J2 - J. Anim. Feed Sci. SN - 1230-1388 VL - 5 IS - 4 PY - 1996 ID - Marounek1996 TI - Effect of ionophores and 2-bromoethanesulphonic acid in hen caecal methanogenic cultures AB - Laying hens, one year of age, fed a commercial concentrate were killed, and their caecal contents inoculated into a nutrient broth with starch as the energy source. Cultures were incubated for 24 h and production of methane, hydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFA) measured. Thirteen mols of VFA were produced per 1 mol of methane in control incubations. Acetate, propionate and butyrate accounted for 89-94% of metabolite carbon. Only traces of lactate were produced. Monensin and salinomycin at 5 mg/l significantly decreased production of methane, total VFA, acetate, butyrate and valerate. Similar fermentation shifts were found in cultures containing 2-bromoethanesulphonic acid (2-BES) at 10 mmol/l. Propionate percentages were increased in all treated cultures. Hydrogen recoveries were incomplete in control cultures (70.5-82.1%). The headspace gas of control cultures contained ca 1% (v/v) of molecular hydrogen. Approximately twice more hydrogen gas accumulated in treated cultures. AU - Marounek, M. AU - Rada, V. AU - Benda, V. SP - 425 EP - 431 DA - 1996 DO - 10.22358/jafs/69620/1996 UR - https://doi.org/10.22358/jafs/69620/1996 ER -