Microbial and Biochemical Changes in the Rumen of Cattle and Buffalo Fed Oat Hay-Concentrate Diet

Rumen ecosystem and intra-ruminal metabolism in ruminant species fed oat hay-concentrate diet revealed that ammonia-N excelled (P<0.05) in buffalo (21.31) than in cattle (20.21mg%), which, evolved higher (P<0.05) synthesis of protein-N (65.48) to buffalo (61.93mg%). It may ostensibly pinpoint induced microbial deaminases of buffalo. Post-prandial influence of test diet was maximum (P<0.05) at 2 h after feeding. Two ruminants did not differ for cellulolytic bacteria and anaerobic fungi population but total protozoal (9x10⁵) and viable bacterial (37.5xl0⁸/ml) density exceeded significantly in buffalo than in cattle (6.00xl0⁵, 26.50x10⁸g/ml). Inspite of latter differential rumen ambience coupled with better (P<0.05) cellulase profile, buffalo did not exhibit more digestion of fibrous components of test diet. It may be deduced that rumen physiological factor(s) other than microbiota prevalence exert influence on rumen function and metabolism.