Research Reviews - Fungi

Welch et al.,  1996

Amaferm has been shown to increase fungal culture mass and protein, and cellulase secretion of Neocallimastix frontalis EB 188 in a dose-dependant manner. (Welch, R.P., K.P. Tsai, E.G. Harper, J.S. Chang, and R.E. Calza. 1996. "The effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB 188: effects on physiology". Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol 45:811-816).

Harper et al., 1996

Amaferm has been shown to increase growth rates, protein and cellulase secretion, and fungal mass in three rumen fungi species, as well as increasing total VFA production by 19 to 23%, depending on species. (Harper, E. G., R. P. Welch, D. Contreras Lara, J. S. Chang, R. E. Calza.  1996.  The effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on the anaerobic fungi Neocallimastix frontalis EB 188, Piromyces communis DC 193, and Orpinomyces ssp. RW 206: generalized effects and component analysis.  Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 45:817-821).

Chang et al., 1999

Amaferm has been shown to accelerate both the rate and extent of fiber digestion through increased growth of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188, thus functioning like a prebiotic in stimulating the activity of fungi that break ligno-cellulose bonds leading to enhanced bacterial digestion. (Chang, J. S., E. M. Harper, and R. E. Calza.  1999. 

Fermentation extract effects on the morphology and metabolism of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188.  J. Appl. Microbiol. 86:389-398).

Schmidt et al., 2004

Amaferm has been shown to accelerate the growth of motile zoospores of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188, with a resulting increase of cellulose enzyme production peaking at 150% greater than controls.  (Schmidt, J. A., S. Albright, K. P. Tsai, G. M. Calza, J. S. Chang, R. E. Calza.  2004.  Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol. 63:422-430).

Amaferm has been shown to accelerate the enzyme production of the rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188, resulting in a 37% increase in carboxymethyl cellulose, a 261% increase in β-glucosidase, and a 407% increase in amylase, showing that the effects of Amaferm are not limited to enzymes responsible for fiber digestion, but also starch digestion.  (Schmidt, J. A., S. Albright, K. P. Tsai, G. M. Calza, J. S. Chang, R. E. Calza.  2004.  Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol. 63:422-430).

Research Reviews—Bacteria

Wiedmeier et al., 1987

Amaferm has been shown to provide stimulatory factors to rumen bacteria, resulting in a 27% increase in cellulolytic bacteria, with increased dry matter, and crude protein digestion as well as an increase in the acetate to propionate ratio.  (Wiedmeier, R. D., M. J. Arambel, and J. L. Walters.  1987.  Effect of yeast culture and Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on ruminal characteristics and nutrient digestibility.  J. Dairy Sci. 70:2063-2068).

Frumholtz et al., 1989

Amaferm resulted in a 179% increase in the total number of ruminal bacteria and a 288% greater number of cellulolytic bacteria with a 45% reduction in protozoal numbers compared with the control treatment lacking Amaferm in one fermentation study.  (Frumholtz, P.P., C.J. Newbold and R.J. Wallace.  1989.  Influence of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on the Fermentation of a Basal Ration in the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec).  J. Agric. Sci (Camb.).  113:169-172).

Fondevila et al., 1990

Amaferm addition to sheep diets has been shown to result in a doubling of the number of total culturable bacteria and increase the initial rate of straw degradation while resulting in a 13.5% decrease in lactate production.  (Fondevila, M., C.J. Newbold, P.M. Hotten and E.R. Orskov, 1990. “A Note on the Effect of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on the Rumen Fermentation of Sheep Given Straw.” Anim. Prod. 51:422-425).

Beharka et al., 1991

Amaferm supplemented calves have been found to have higher bacterial counts of cellulolytic, hemicellulolytic, and pectinolytic bacteria than controls.  (Beharka, A. A., T. G. Nagaraja, and J. L. Morrill.  1991.  Performance and ruminal function development of young calves fed diets with Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract.  J. Dairy Sci.  74:4326-4336).

Newbold et al., 1991

Amaferm resulted in a 90% increase in total bacteria and a 50% increase in cellulolytic bacteria, and was reported to stimulate both bacterial growth and activity.  (Newbold, C.J., R. Brock and R.J. Wallace. 1991.  “Influence of Autoclaved or Irradiated Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on Fermentation in the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec).” J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 116:159-162).

Newbold et al., 1992

Sheep fed grass hay diets containing 30% or 70% barley plus 2 grams per head per day of Amaferm had increased numbers of total viable rumen bacteria, and reduced rumen lactate compared with sheep not supplemented with Amaferm.  (Newbold, C.J., P. P. Frumholtz and R.J. Wallace. 1992.   Influence of Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract on Rumen Fermentation and Blood Constituents in Sheep Given Diets of Grass Hay and Barley.   J. Agric. Sci. (Camb.) 119:423-427).

Campos-Montiel and Viniegra-Gonzalez, 1995

Amaferm has been found to result in a 12.6% increase in cellulase activity, with a 32.7% increase in acetic acid production showing an increase in both bacterial growth rate and metabolic activity.  (Campos-Montiel, R. G. and G. Viniegra-Gonzalez.  1995.  Microbial bioassay of fungal compounds that stimulate the growth of a consortium of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria.  Biotechnology Techniques. 9:65-68).

Kreikemeier and Varel, 1997

Amaferm supplementation has been shown to result in increased counts of cellulolytic bacteria in steers fed a corn stalk/wheat middlings diet.  (Kreikemeier, K. K. and V. Varel.  1997.  Growth performance of ruminal fermentation characteristics of steers fed high forage diets supplemented with Aspergillus oryzae extract (Amaferm).  Prof. Anim. Sci. 13:189-193).

Beharka and Nagaraja, 1998

Amaferm has been shown to increase the growth rate of the fiber digesting bacteria in the rumen, Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 and Ruminococcus albus 7 as well as several strains of the lactate utilizing bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii, Selenemonas ruminantium, and  Selenomonas lactilytica.  (Beharka, A. A. and T. G. Nagaraja.  1998.  Effect of Aspergillus oryzae extract alone or in combination with antimicrobial compounds on ruminal bacteria.  J. Dairy Sci. 81:1591-1598).