RELATIVE RUMEN MICROBIAL PROFILE OF CATTLE AND BUFFALO FED WHEAT STRAW-CONCENTRATE DIET

Relative rumen microbiology of adult cattle and buffalo fed wheat shraw-conventional concentrate diet to their appetite was ascertained through taxonomic groups of protozoa and culturing of bacteria. The rumen protozoal counts tended to be higher (P>0.05) in buffalo (1.59) than in cattle (1. 1 5 x 1 0(5)/ml). Of 23 ciliate species detected, Ophryoscolex purkynei and Epidinium ecandatum in buffalo, and Diplodimum cristagalli from the rumer of cattle. The predominant occurrence of genera Isotricha and Dasytricha were conspicuously absent in cattle (5.64 and 4.60%) and buffalo (4.24 and 4.53%). They exceeded Charon and Blepharoprosthium (0.64 to 2.57%). Of Entodiniomorphs genera Entodinium was more prevalent in cattle (77.91) and buffalo(78.87%) compared to others. The occurrence of genus Diplodinium(1.61 and 2.45%, P<0.01), Ostracodinium (1.35 and 2.08%, P<0.05) and Eudidinium(0.34 and 1.06%, P<0.05) was observed to be higher in buffalo than in cattle. Eudiplodinium (0.20%) and Metadinium (0.15%) considered to be celluloytic protozoa were in least number in cattle while their prevalence was 5 and 8 times, respectively, higher (P<0.01) in buffalo. Ruminal viable bacterial count was apparently higher (P>0.05) in buffalo than in cattle. While proteolytic bacterial population was higher (P<0.05) in buffalo than in cattle, no species differences in respect of amylolytic bacterial existed. The cellulolytiC bacterial population was about 3 folds higher (P<0.01) in buffalo (6.86) vis-a-vis cattle (2.58 x 10(8)/ml) and the process of cellulolysis started earlier in former species.