Physiological characteristics of several rumen protozoa grown in vitro with observations on within and among species variation.

When fed equal amounts of substrate, two Epidinium caudatum clone cultures of markedly different size produced similar volumes of microbial protoplasm. Addition of up to 50% volume of 72h culture medium had no inhibitory effects on growth of Epidinium. Two clone cultures of Epidinium caudatum from Australia had longer generation times and showed less substrate attachment when compared to Ohio clones of this same species. Substitution of alfalfa for orchardgrass in the normal substrate increased Epidinium concentrations, while feeding only ground orchardgrass or alfalfa resulted in a marked decrease or disappearance of the protozoa. Eudiplodinium impalae, isolated from rumen contents of a steer in Australia, was successfully cultured, with generation times for this species averaging 11.3h. Reducing particle size of the substrates by ball-milling was detrimental for growth of Entodinium and Epidinium; however, Eudiplodinium increased in concentration. Significant concentration differences were observed among six clone cultures of Epidinium obtained from Europe. A generation time of 18.7h was measured for Enoploplastron triloricatum when the culture was transferred every 12h. Lowering the incubation temperature to 34°C completely inhibited protozoal growth of Epidinium and Entodinium exiguum after 12 days, but not for Entodinium caudatum.