In vitro gas formation and fermentation parameters using different substrates and pig faecal inocula affected by bile extract

The effect of bile extract on microbial gas formation and composition, production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and methane and on reductive acetogenesis was studied in vitro. As substrates cellulose and potato starch in combination with graded levels of bile extract concentrations (0; 333; 666; 1333 mg/l) were incubated with a faecal suspension from pigs as microbial inoculum according to procedures of a modified “Hohenheim gas formation test” (HFT). Bile extract concentration of 1333 mg/l in the in vitro system reduced total gas production from cellulose significantly (p < 0.05) compared to incubation without bile extract. After 24 h of incubation, bile extract concentration of 1333 mg/l lead to a decrease in methane production from cellulose (p < 0.05) in comparison to incubation without bile extract. Increasing levels of bile extract reduced total production of VFA (p < 0.05) from cellulose. Furthermore, bile extract concentration of 1333 mg/l increased molar percentage of propionate from cellulose and starch after 24 h of incubation (p < 0.05). Bile extract concentration of 333 mg/l increased molar percentage of propionate from cellulose after 48 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The results may contribute to explain the differences in gas and methane production between the rumen and the hindgut of monogastric animals.