The production and storage of a fermentor-grown bacterial culture containing Synergistes jonesii, for protecting cattle against mimosine and 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone toxicity from feeding on Leucaena leucocephala

Abstract

The leguminous shrub Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is widely used as a forage species for cattle in tropical agriculture. However, leucaena contains the toxic amino acid mimosine. Both mimosine and its primary ruminal degradation product 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone (DHP) are toxic and their accumulation in the animal’s system results in hair loss, reduced liveweight gain, and goitre. The ruminal bacterium Synergistes jonesii is known to degrade these compounds and inoculation of the bacterium into the rumen protects cattle against mimosine and DHP toxicity. We report on the development, production, and storage of an in vitro, fermentor-based, mixed bacterial inoculum, which includes S. jonesii, for administration to cattle. This technique may be applicable to the production and delivery of other live, anaerobic, bacterial inocula for use in animal agriculture.