TABLE 2.

Cellulose digestion and changes in bacterial and fungal concentrations during the fermentation of alfalfa by rumen contents without (control) and with added antibiotics^a

Time (h)	Cellulose digestion (%)b		No. of bacteria/ml (107)c		No. of fungi/ml (102)d
	Control	Antibiotics	Control	Antibiotics	Control	Antibiotics
0	0	0	8.6 ± 1.9	8.6 ± 1.9	14.1 ± 5.2	14.1 ± 5.2
30	40.3 ± 1.6e	8.7 ± 1.8	757 ± 348	2.8 ± 2.5	8.0 ± 7.0	39.3 ± 13.0
72	48.8 ± 2.4	32.8 ± 3.4	20.4 ± 7.9	0.2 ± 0.2	0.007 ± 0.007	11.1 ± 7.2

^aPenicillin and streptomycin. 

^bAt both 30 and 72 h, cellulose digestion in the control was higher than with antibiotics (P < 0.01). 

^cBacterial concentrations higher in the control tubes at 30 h (P < 0.08) and 72 h (P < 0.05). 

^dFungal concentrations higher in the antibiotic tubes at 30 h (P < 0.07) and 72 h (P < 0.18). 

^eMean ± standard error.