Effect of different diets on the diurnal concentrations of ciliate protozoa in the rumen of water buffalo

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Abstract
SUMMARY: The relation between composition of food and numbers of rumen ciliates was examined in three buffaloes fed once a day. Depending on the diet and time after feeding, the total protozoa varied from 0·97 x 105to 9·11 x 105/ml rumen fluid. Entodinia formed from 87·0 to 97·1%, Diplodinia from 1·9 to 11·4%, and Holotricha from 1·0 to 1·7%. The numbers ofEntodinium, Polyplastron multivesiculatumand Holotricha were least in animals fed on hay only, while the smallest number ofAnoplodinium denticulatumandEudiplodinium maggiiwas found in buffaloes given a mixed diet containing 13·3% of concentrates. The highest number of protozoa was found in animals fed a mixed diet containing 26·9% of concentrates. No correlation was found between level of protein, crude fibre or nitrogen extracts in food and numbers ofEntodinium, Polyplasstronand Holotricha in the rumen, but numbers ofAnoplodinium denticulatumandEudiplodinium maggiiincreased as protein content increased.