Effect of Supplementing Streptococcus gallolyticus Strain TDGB 406 on Rumen Fermentation and Microbial Profile of Goats Fed on Oak Leaves

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of tannin degrading bacteria (Streptococcus gallolyticus strain TDGB 406) on rumen fermentation and microbial profile of goats fed on oak (Quercus semicarpifolia) leaves. Three adult male goats (average body weight 27.5±1.0 kg) fitted with permanent fistula were distributed into three groups (switch over design). The animals of group 1 served as control (C) while animals of group T1 and T2 were given autoclaved and live culture of isolate TDGB 406 (10⁶ cells/ml), respectively @ 5 ml/kg live weight. The animals were fed measured quantity of dry oak leaves as the main roughage source and ad libitum maize hay along with fixed quantity of concentrate mixture. The feeding of live culture of isolate TDGB 406 as probiotic did not show any effect on the rumen fermentation pattern viz. pH, total nitrogen, TCA ppt-N, NPN, lactic acid, total volatile fatty acids production and the activities of carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, protease and tannase. However, the production of NH₃-N was higher (P<0.05) in live culture fed animals as compared to control group. The population of rumen protozoa, total bacteria and fungi were similar in all the three groups, whereas, tannin degrading bacteria population was higher in T2 where the live culture of TDGB 406 was fed. The results of the study indicated that TDGB 406 can modify rumen microbial eco-system when used as probiotic in goats without disturbing the rumen environment.