The aim of the present study was to evaluate terpenes degradation rate in the rumen fluid from adapted and non-adapted animals. Four castrated healthy animals, two rams and two bucks, were used. Animals were daily orally dosed for 2 weeks with 1 g of each of the following terpenes, α-pinene, limonene and β-caryophyllene. At the end of each week, rumen fluid (RF) samples were assayed in vitro for their potential to degrade terpenes over time. For each animal, a 10 mL reaction medium (RM) at a ratio 1:9 (v/v) was prepared and a terpenes solution at a concentration of 100 μg/ml each, was added in each RM tube. Tubes were incubated at 39 °C under anaerobic conditions and their contents sampled at 0, 2, 4, 8, 21 and 24 h. RF could degrade terpenes as it was shown by the significantly (P < 0.05) higher overall degradation rates. Individual terpene degradation rates, were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in week 5 for limonene and marginally (P = 0.083) higher also in week 5 for α-pinene. In conclusion, the findings of the present preliminary study suggest that terpenes can be degraded in the rumen fluid.
Keywords: Degradation; Goats; Rumen; Sheep; Terpenes.