Direct-Fed Microbial: Beneficial Applications, Modes of Action and Prospects as a Safe Tool for Enhancing Ruminant Production and Safeguarding Health

INTRODUCTION

The concept of microbial manipulation was first coined when the consumption of yoghurt by Bulgarian peasants was associated with their longevity (Metchnikoff, 1907). Now it is generally accepted that certain group of viable microbes are beneficial for livestock species. Rumen harbours variety of microbes actively involved in initial and very first step of digestion of green fodder and concentrate diet. Age of animal, feeding pattern and diet formulation influence and determines the microbial environment of rumen in four stomach animals (Dhanasekaran et al., 2008; Apas et al., 2015; Yadav and Shukla, 2015).

The concern over the use of intensive antibiotics has triggered to the newer sense of the importance of DFM in the livestock production. The word probiotics and DFM are used interchangeably but in fact they are not the same. The DFM has been defined by the US Food and Drug Administration Authority as the feed product containing the source of live naturally existing microbes (Brashears et al., 2005). The DFM has been used in livestock industry over the last 20 years to enhance milk production, weight gain and feed efficiency (LeJeune and Wetzel, 2007). They are provided to the animals in the form of bolus or sometime mixed with the feed.

The major cause of rumen microbial study is to improve feed utilization, animal health and production, as well as animal safety by improving immune status which is possible only by controlled fermentation and lowering ruminal diseases. In the past few decades, a number of feed additives have been used for example antibiotics, sodium bicarbonate, slow release urea, methane inhibitors and defaunting agents have been successfully utilized in ruminants nutrition in order to manipulate the microbial ecosystem (Seo et al., 2010). However, due to a number of toxic problems associated with these additives, researchers are looking for safer additives in ruminant nutrition (Barton, 2000). Further, these products have been criticized by the consumers from the safety point of view.

In view of the recent criticism, the use of probiotics has become a suitable alternative that can survive in the rumen of animals (Dhama et al., 2008; Fon and Nsahlai, 2013). When suitable DFM (selected bacteria, yeast or fungi) are supplemented to the ruminants through diet, they help in establishing healthy microflora in the gut by checking the dysbiosis and undesired alterations in the pH. In early stages of neonatal life, gut colonization with DFM microbes set up healthy microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract, which plays crucial role in protecting budding calves against various infections, bacterial diarrhea and pathogenic challenges (Dhama et al., 2008; Varankovich et al., 2015; Yuan et al., 2015). Administration of selected DFM strains in young and adult both types of ruminants augment the health and production performance, improves the immunological aura in the body and compete with the invading microbes without leaving any residual toxic effects in an eco-friendly manner (Ohashi and Ushida, 2009; Yeoman and White, 2014). These multitasking approaches of DFM support and strongly recommend their optimal usage in the livestock industry.

This review discusses the DFM with a focus on their multiple beneficial roles in ruminants such as effects on performance and productivity, mitigation of methane emission, immunomodulatory properties, countering infectious pathogens and protecting health. Information compiled with the concepts and recent advances would encourage more research and validation of practical prospects of DFM supplementation in ruminant feeding and health. It will be highly useful for researchers, animal owners, feed manufacturers, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, stakeholders and would help in gaining economic returns by promoting ruminant health and production through feed modification.

DIRECT-FED MICROBIALS

The word probiotic is composed of two words: pro means in favour and biotic means life. The term probiotic has been defined as "Those living organisms which are used as feed supplement and produced beneficial impact on the host animal through improving the intestinal microbial balance" (Fuller, 1989). The Food and Drug administration of USA has directed to use the term "direct-fed microbial" instead of probiotic (Miles and Bootwalla, 1991). The definition of DFM is broad in nature and includes variety of organisms like yeast, fungi, bacteria and cell fragments (Oetzel et al., 2007; Elghandour et al., 2014b). The DFM grow in the rumen has a beneficial effect on microbial ecosystem (Seo et al., 2010). Variety of DFM is being used in the ruminants around the world which can be classified into three major classes: bacterial, fungal or combination of both. The most common among them is the bacterial DFM which can further be classified as lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB), second is lactic acid utilizing bacteria (LUB) and other microorganisms (Elghandour et al., 2015). The most common genus used in DFM are Propionibacterium, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacillus and some other important bacteria such as, Prevotella bryantii and Megasphaera elsdenii (Kung, 2006; Seo et al., 2010). The use of these bacteria allow the producers to decrease the time in adaptation to high concentrate diet and reduce the incidence of acidosis in lactating animals (Kung, 2006; Elghandour et al., 2015).

TYPES OF DFM

Rumen microbes: Generally the population of rumen microbes is composed of different kinds of bacteria, protozoa and fungi, only a small number of these communities qualify for their potential as DFM (Miron et al., 2001). Most of the studies have focused on using such a DFM targeting the metabolism of lactic acid such as, Selenomonas ruminantium, Megasphaera elsdenii and Propionibacterium freudenreichii (Wiryawan and Brooker, 1995; Klieve et al., 2003; Raeth-Knight et al., 2007). Other approach includes the utilization and reduction of lactic acid such as, Prevotella bryantii 25A which consume starch (Chiquette et al., 2008). Another group of DFM includes fibrolytic rumen bacteria namely Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens in an effort to enhance fiber digestion (Krause and Otzel, 2006; Chiquette et al., 2007). Logically DFM derived from the rumen may possibly be more capable to adjust into the microbial community since they are origined from the environment from which they have been extracted eliminating the need of daily administration (McAllister et al., 2011).

Lactic acid producing bacteria: Majority of DFM used in cattle production are lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) including Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp. and Pediococcus spp. (McAllister et al., 2011). This class of DFM has been used in almost all types of livestock. In suckling calves, LAB are administered as bolus while in dairy and beef animals, they are mixed with diet. Furthermore, LAB are also inoculated into the forage before the process of ensiling in order to enhance the preservation, increasing feeding value and aerobic stability of silage (Schmidt et al., 2009).

Lactic acid producing bacteria are more effective since they are environment friendly and can alter the environment through a number of mechanisms. The lactic acid produced by LAB is one of the key compounds that can change the pH of the competitor bacteria, in addition, to production of antimicrobial substance known as bacteriocin (Servin, 2004; McAllister et al., 2011). Other compounds such as mevalonolactone, benzoic acid, diacetyl, reuterin and methylhydantoin are also produced by some of the LAB (Brashears et al., 2005). It has also been suggested that LAB in combination of other bacteria and yeast showed synergistic activities in many of the commercial products (McAllister et al., 2011).

Other bacteria: Some other types of bacteria such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacillus spp. have been successfully used as DFM. The endospores produced by Bacillus spp. are environmentally stable and thermo-tolerant which make these bacteria competitively superior in ensuring their survival during storage or pelleting (McAllister et al., 2011). Bacillus spp. are present in rumen in low number and play a minor role in the degradation of cell wall. Strains of Bifidobacterium used as DFM do not originate from the rumen, however, they play key role in starch digestion (Stewart et al., 1997).

Yeast culture: The official definition of yeast culture is a dry product composed of yeast and the media on which it was grown dried in such a manner to preserve the fermenting capacity of the yeast (Yoon and Stern, 1995). The effect of yeast preparation on the rumen fermentation and performance has been well elucidated and has generated considerable scientific interest in the past few decades. It is now well accepted that yeast culture can beneficially modify rumen microflora, digestive and fermentative activities in the rumen.

First published report on the use of the yeast was made public in 1925 describing the use of yeast as a protein source in ruminant ration in lactating cows (Eckles and Williams, 1925). The use of live yeast has been associated with high production of ethanol toxicity; therefore, dead yeast is preferred to be used in animal diet (Yoon and Stern, 1995). The application of yeast increased during 1950’s when, Renz and Koch (1956) reported that inclusion of 50 g day^–1 yeast culture increased milk yield.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is being extensively used as a DFM for the improved performance and milk yield in dairy cattle. Recent analysis has demonstrated that S. cerevisiae in dairy cows improved feed intake, rumen pH and volatile fatty acids, organic digestibility and decreased lactic acid in the rumen (Desnoyers et al., 2009). Saccharomyces cerevisiae are aerobic bacteria which can metabolize lactic acid, alter the population of rumen microbes due to its unique ability to utilize oxygen thereby producing an environment which is more suitable for the growth of anaerobic bacteria in the rumen and increase the fibrolytic bacteria (Jouany et al., 1999; McAllister et al., 2011). In addition to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger have also been used in ruminant nutrition, however, their role is limited to crude enzyme extract instead of whole cell, primarily targeted to increase fibre digestion in the rumen (McAllister et al., 2011).

For ruminants, yeast culture has been considered as the most promising DFM for nutrient utilization. Previously it was suggested that yeast cannot survive and multiply in the anaerobic culture, however, later evidences suggest that Saccharomyces cerevisiae may multiply and grow in the rumen conferring beneficial impact on cellulysis and productive traits (Dawson and Newman, 1988; Harris and Lobo, 1988; Dutta et al., 2009).

MECHANISM OF ACTION OF DFM

Many factors are involved in understanding the mode of action of DFM such as dose, feeding time, duration and frequency and strains. Moreover, some DFM act via rumen while other influence the gastrointestinal tract (Puniya et al., 2015). Inside rumen the type of DFM such as LUB or LAB influence, the later mainly prevent the acidosis of the rumen in dairy animals through facilitating the rumen microbes which can survive in the presence of lactic acid in the rumen (Yoon and Stern, 1995; Nocek et al., 2002). The former type of bacteria mainly decreases the concentration of lactic acid and keeps the pH at normal level. One such example is Megasphaera elsdenii which utilize the lactic acid in the rumen (Yang et al., 2004; Kung, 2006). Furthermore, this bacteria utilize lactate, glucose and maltose in addition to competing with lactate producing organism (Russell and Baldwin, 1978). Propionibacteria is present in the rumen in high number in animals fed with medium concentrate diet which modify the rumen conditions through conversion of lactate into propionate resulting in the higher production of hepatic glucose (Stein et al., 2006).

The DFM has also been proposed to produce antibacterial compounds such as bacteriocin and hydrogen peroxide which competitively exclude the pathogenic bacteria. Hydogen peroxide can characteristically oxide the sulfhydryl group in hexokinase and glycerol aldehyde -3-phosphate dehydrogenase causing blockage of glycolysis (Carlsson et al., 1983; Dicks and Botes, 2010). The bacteriocin produced by LAB does not allow the binding of substrates to ribonucleotide reductase interfering with the DNA synthesis of target microbes (Dicks and Botes, 2010).

Recently, it has been proposed that DFM can modulate the host immune system through stimulating and activation of the dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes and neutrophils of the intestines (Krehbiel et al., 2003). When the DFM is administered, they are absorbed by the intestinal wall and various immune players such as dendritic cells, macrophages and natural killer cells surround them which result in the stimulation of the immune response (Dicks and Botes, 2010). The LAB such as Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr23 is also involved in the stimulation of macrophages to produce the cytokines (TNF-α) as reported by Matsuguchi et al. (2003).

Many theories have been forwarded in explaining the mechanism through which yeast exerts their beneficial impact on host. Yeast may have buffering effect through reduction of pH (Elghandour et al., 2014a, b). Yeast can also improve the oxygen availability on the surface of freshly ingested food to maintain metabolism (Newbold et al., 1996). Furthermore, DFM such as S. cerevisiae can compete with the starch utilizing bacteria thereby preventing the accumulation of lactate and provides organic acids and vitamins to the cellulytic bacteria and LUB (Chaucheyras et al., 1995; Lynch and Martin, 2002).

The rumen pH is mainly determined by the concentration of lactic acid (Williams et al., 1991). Fermentation of carbohydrate depresses pH leading to reduction in the number of cellulytic bacteria, impair degradation of forage and dry matter intake (Orskov et al., 1978; Thomas and Rook, 1981; Williams, 1989).

BENEFICIAL APPLICATIONS OF DFM

Various beneficial applications of DFM in ruminants viz., effect on ruminant performance, productivity, immunomodulatory activities, protecting from pathogens/ infections, safeguarding health and mitigation of methane emission are discussed in below sections. An overview of modes of actions and beneficial applications of DFM for enhancing ruminant production and protecting health is depicted in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1:	An overview of modes of actions and beneficial applications of DFM for enhancing ruminant production and protecting health

EFFECT OF DFM ON RUMINANT PERFORMANCE

The purpose of feeding DFM prior to the start of rumination is to establish and maintain stable normal intestinal microbes rather than a production stimulant. In neonates, the microbes of the gastrointestinal tract are very unstable, abrupt dietary or environmental change may cause an alteration in the microbial population of the GIT which may result in diarrhea (Sandine, 1979). Most of the studies dealing with the use of DFM in ruminant production are related with neonatal dairy calves. In young calves, the rapid establishment to adapt to solid feed by stabilizing the rumen and intestinal microbes and the exclusion of enteric pathogen is the primary goal of the use of DFM (Dhama et al., 2008; Puniya et al., 2015).

Experimentally, there are several bacteria which can potentially act as DFM but they have not been commercialized. One such bacteria is M. elsdenii which is used in lactating animals, however, when cows are abruptly shifted from high forage diet to concentrate diet, M. elsdenii is often incapable to prevent lactic acidosis (Puniya et al., 2015). Similarly, E. faecium succeeded less likely in feedlot cattle adapted to high grain diet (Beauchemin et al., 2003).

The several conditions faced by newly produced calves such as weaning, traction and dehorning has effect on microbial environment (Elghandour et al., 2015). These conditions may change the microbiota in the negative directions thereby reducing the performance and weight gain. The administration of DFM is expected to change the microbial population in the positive direction (Krehbiel et al., 2003). Limited data is available on the administration of DFM in stressed calves, however, there is a general consensus that supplementation of DFM to the diet of such calves may improve the health and performance of stressed calves (Elghandour et al., 2015).

Commonly used DFM in young calves are Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species. In contrast to adult ruminants, young ruminants have the ability to digest a significant amount of ration which is associated with the risk of increased proliferation of microorganisms resulting in the increased chance for diarrhea and also weight loss (Elghandour et al., 2015). Here the role of DFM is very important which may obtain positive impact on the GIT function thereby modifying the bacterial concentration in the positive direction (Abu-Tarboush et al., 1996; Kung, 2001). It is the reason of using DFM that in an experiment conducted by Nakanishi et al. (1993) in which Holstein calves supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus showed rumination at 30 day compared to untreated calves, indicating the ability of this bacterium to promote ruminal development (Elghandour et al., 2015). Recently, Dicks and Botes (2010) concluded that Bifidobacteria produce acetic and lactic acid at such a ratio (3:2) which may be beneficial for the control of Gram-negative bacteria in the GIT, probably the shift towards the more production of acetate is lethal for the survival of Gram-negative bacteria and other microbes such as moulds and yeast (Gilliland 1989; Elghandour et al., 2015). Growth performance has also been shown to improve when LAB was supplemented in young calves (Adams et al., 2008; Frizzo et al., 2010). Increased reduction in the incidence of diarrhea has been reported by using DFM especially Lactbacillus (Abu-Tarboush et al., 1996).

The DFM have been rarely used in high producing dairy cows, however, its use during early lactation may be the best candidate since cows are in negative energy balance with high fermentable carbohydrate which is associated with lactic acidosis (Kung, 2006). It has been shown that DFM improves performance in dairy cows through high intake of dry matter and enhance the milk yield and milk contents such as protein, blood sugar and insulin concentration (Nocek et al., 2003; Nocek and Kautz, 2006; Oetzel et al., 2007). In beef cattle, to prevent ruminant acidosis caused by high fermentable diet, DF is recommended. The DFM in beef cattle showed improved feed efficiency, growth performance and meat production (Ghorbani et al., 2002; Krehbiel et al., 2003). The supplementation of DFM in the diet of feedlot ruminants has caused improved feed efficiency and daily gain, carcass characteristics and dry matter intake (Huck et al., 1999; Galyean et al., 2000).

The most important role of DFM in feedlot cattle is the reduction of pathogenic bacteria such as, Escherichia coli in the GIT (Elghandour et al., 2015). Studies have shown that different kinds of DFM have reduced the population of E. coli O 157: H7 in feedlot cattle (Ohya et al., 2000).

Composition of diet and environmental conditions determines the growth response of animals in case of yeast supplementation, however, type of animals may not be affected since daily live weight were equally increased in dairy and beef calves (Hughes, 1988).

Williams et al. (1987) demonstrated higher daily weight gain in lambs fed a diet supplemented with yeast culture. In contrast, Quigley et al. (1992) found that yeast culture affected ruminal metabolites with no influence on dry matter intake and weight gain in calves. Similarly, Mir and Mir (1992) observed that supplemental live-yeast did not positively impact the feed utilization in steers.

MILK PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION

Modern dairy farms are targeting high milk production utilizing feed composed of high concentrates to meet the metabolic demand of the higher milk production. Such feeding system is associated with metabolic dysfunction like rumen acidosis especially during poor feeding condition and composition.

Higher milk yield with no change in milk composition has been reported due to the supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus (Jaquette et al., 1988). Colenbrander et al. (1988) found that treatment of alfalfa with L. acidophilus improved milk production and composition in dairy cows with no effect on dry matter intake. Improved milk response has been reported in dairy cows and goats fed with yeast culture with increased milk fat, however the magnitude of response depends upon the stage of lactation (Williams et al., 1991). Response of milk production may also depends upon production level for example, Hoyos et al. (1987) reported that dairy cows supplemented under high and low level of production with Saccharomyece cerevisiae, S. faecium and L. acidophilus. High production cows showed higher milk yield with no effect on the cows with low production, however, fat was similar in both the groups. Milk production in high producing cows was increased when M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 was supplemented as compared to the control group (Erasmus et al., 1992; Hagg and Henning, 2007; Aikman et al., 2008). Gomez-Basauri et al. (2001) reported higher milk production (0.73 kg day^–1) with less feed consumption (0.42 kg day^–1) when cows were doses with lactic acid bacteria including L. casei, L. acidophilus and E. faecium in comparison to the control. On the same line, Boyd et al. (2011) found that using L. acidophilus NP51 and Proponibacterium freudenreichii NP24 may improve milk yield and digestibility in heat stressed cows. It is interesting that using a different strain (L. acidophilus LA747 and P. freudenreichii PF24) in the study of Raeth-Knight et al. (2007) found no effect on digestibility, performance and rumen characteristics. Other studies have shown higher milk yield when lactating cows were supplemented with a combination of fungal culture (Saccharomyces cerevisae) and lactic acid bacteria acidophilus and/or (Lactobacillus plantarum/E. faecium) (Komari et al., 1999; Block et al., 2000). Propionibacteria converts lactic acid into propionic acid, are very important for the ruminants since the propionate represents a major source of energy of the animals and a DFM composed of such bacteria increased milk fat as well as milk yield in dairy cows (Nocek and Kautz, 2006; Oetzel et al., 2007).

In lactating cows, yeast culture significantly improved the dry matter intake and subsequent milk yield (Williams et al., 1991). Similarly, Wohlt et al. (1991) reported higher feed intake and milk yield when yeast culture was supplemented from 30 days pre-partum till week 18 of lactation. Pre-partum and post-partum dry matter intake and milk production have been reported by several authors in dairy animals (Wohlt et al., 1998; Dann et al., 2000; Nocek et al., 2003). Nikkhah et al. (2004) did not find any advantage on the intake of dry matter and milk production in dairy cows, however, milk fat and total solids were increased by the supplementation of live yeast culture.

IMMUNOMODULATION

A number of mechanisms are involved in improving the immune system of the host such as upregulating cell-mediated immune response, augmenting antibody production, enhancing dendritic cell-T interaction, reduction of epithelial cells apoptosis, production of Toll like receptor signaling etc. (McAllister et al., 2011). The DFM stimulates epithelial innate immunity which may suppress intestinal inflammation by increasing the production of TNF-α (Pagnini et al., 2010). The way the DFM affect the production of cytokines and chemokines in addition to T and B cell responses depends upon the types of DFM, the dose and duration of the experiment (McAllister et al., 2011). For example, a DFM consisting of Bifidobacterium thermophilum, L. casei, E. faecium and L. acidophilus heightened the expression of cytokines IL-6 but decreased cytokine IL-10 in chicken (Chichlowski et al., 2007). In another report LAB-based DFM depressed IFN- γ, IL-3 and IL-4 in chicks and also reduced the Salmonella enterica colonies in the intestines of chickens (Haghighi et al., 2008). Another study reported that in response to L. acidophilus DFM, IFN- γ, IFN- α, IL-18, STAT4, STAT2 and MyD88 were upregulated in the cecal tonsils of broilers (Brisbin et al., 2008).

It has also been proposed that DFM mediated immune response is more important in young ruminants since intestinal population is less established on one hand and on the other hand, intestinal tract is more susceptible to colonization of pathogenic microbes (McAllister et al., 2011). For example, Lactococcus lactis DPC 3147 was administered to adult lactating cows which successfully increased IL-1β and IL-8 gene expression but failed to show a response to control mastitis (Beecher et al., 2009).

PROTECTING FROM INFECTIOUS PATHOGENS

Probiotics such as, lactic acid bacteria have been reported to prevent and protect cattle from various pathogens, alleviate stress and boost immunity and have been suggested to be valuable alternative to antibiotics (Gupta and Gupta, 2007; Yasuda et al., 2007; Frizzo et al., 2010; Bayatkouhsar et al., 2013; Uyeno et al., 2015). The DFM Yeast as probiotic has been found effective in decreasing pathogenic effects of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in calves (Cole et al., 1992). Probiotics strains were found to prevent and reduce mastitis and metritis in cattle by reducing adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, producing antimicrobial substances and with other modes of action (Otero et al., 2006; Gulbe et al., 2015). Lactobacillus acidophilus has been reported to provide protection from E. coli O157:H7 infection in cattle owing to their bacteriostatic/bacteriocidal effects (Schamberger et al., 2004; Poppi et al., 2015). Lactobacillus plantarum supplementation in feed reduced Clostridia load in faeces of goats (Maragkoudakis et al., 2010). A probiotic mixture of Bacillus licheniformis and B. subtilis supplementation in feed of sheep resulted in lesser lamb mortality (Kritas et al., 2006). A mixture of L. acidophilus, L. helveticus, L. bulgaricus, L. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus and Enterococcus faecium given to sheep was found effective in checking faecal shedding of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strain, an important food-borne pathogen of humans having public health concerns (Rigobelo et al., 2014). Probiotics could inhibit Listeria monocytogenes and their use has been suggested to prevent and control this important pathogen having public health concerns (Dhama et al., 2015).

MITIGATION OF METHANE EMISSION

Methane is a global concern and ruminants are though to contribute 12-15% to the total global methane emission. Lactating cows consuming 14.7% of gross energy from dry matter is estimated to produce 419 L of methane/day/cow (Holter and Young, 1992). It has been documented that cattle in developed countries are emitting 55 kg/day/animal methane gas compared to 35 kg/day/animal in developing countries. Methane is an important gas and its contribution towards the global warming is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide (Jeyanathan et al., 2014).

Different strategies have been applied, among them the most important is the idea of DFM application. It was reported that addition of yeast culture reduced methane production in steers by 28% (Williams, 1989). Lynch and Martin (2002) reported a 20% methane reduction after a period of 48 h incubating mixed culture of rumen microorganisms in the presence of alfalfa. Chaucheyras-Durand et al. (2008) discussed three major effects of yeast on the rumen health through stabilizing rumen pH, feed degradation, establishing of microbes in the rumen. In addition to yeast, propionate production is the major biochemical pathway through bacterial DFM (Seo et al., 2010). Propionate-producing bacteria utilize hydrogen and therefore reduce the methane production. It was reported that when a DFM based on M. elsdenii is used, the rumen pattern is shifted in favour of propionate production (Jeyanathan et al., 2014). Other bacteria such as Prevotella ruminicola is also known for propionate formation through acrylate pathway (Wallnofer and Baldwin, 1967). Although propionate producing bacteria have been used to improve animal production. However, little attention has been given to methane production. An encouraging study of Berger et al. (2012) using a mixed culture of Propionibacterium jensenii-Lactobacillus spp. produced little methane production in lactating dairy cows showing the potential to mitigate rumen methane. Nitrate/nitrite-reducing bacteria can also play role in reducing rumen methane to act as H₂ sink to CO₂ in the rumen.

Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) have also been used to reduce the methane production in the rumen. The SRB competes with methane producing bacteria for common substrate such as H₂, format and acetate. The bacteria of SRB in the rumen consisted of genus Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. The introduction of sulphate is directly linked with the ability of SRB to compete with methanogenic bacteria. Paul et al. (2011) reported decreased methane production using the newly indentified, Fusobacterium sp., as a DFM.

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Manipulation of gastrointestinal microbial ecosystem to augment animal performance and safeguarding health is one of the prime goals of animal scientists and veterinarians. In light of worldwide ban on the use of antibiotics and pressure to produce higher animal protein, the DFM offer an alternative option. This review has explored the production response with the supplementation of DFM on various aspects. In addition to positive impact of DFM on ruminant production, literature has also reported inconsistency in the response of animals which has been attributed to nature of microbial supplement, dose and duration, age of animal, environmental conditions and combination of these factors. In view of the increasing pressure to produce more and safe animal protein, future DFM research must be directed towards decreasing greenhouse gases and carbon footprint per unit of animal protein produced.