SHORT COMMUNICATION
Effect of supplementing the Dicanthium annulatum
hay diet with tree leaves on microbial activity in the
rumen of goats
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Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute,
Jhnasi-284003 (UP), India
Publication date: 2007-09-17
Corresponding author
S. Singh
Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute,
Jhnasi-284003 (UP), India
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2007;16(Suppl. 2):124-129
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Four adult goats (mean body weight 29.0±2.65 kg) were fed Dicanthium annulatum - Leucaena
leucocephala (DA-LL) and Dicanthium annulatum - Hardwickia binata (DA-HB) in 50:50 ratio in
switch-over experiment to assess the effect of tree leaves supplementation on rumen concentration
of protozoa, their generic distribution, bacteria and fungi. Animals were maintained on each diet for
more than 3 months and rumen liquor was collected at 0 and 4 h post feeding. Mean protozoa counts
were 5.98 and 5.03×105/ml in goats supplemented with LL and HB, respectively. Entodiniomopha
were the most dominant (88.0%) rumen protozoa on both diets. Total viable, amylolytic and
cellulolytic bacteria population was higher (P<0.05) in rumen of goats fed DA-LL (23.74, 11.22 and
29.66) than DA-HB diet (10.52 × 108/ml, 6.31 × 108/ml and 11.02 × 107/ml), while the concentration
of proteolytic bacteria was 8.64 and 6.23 × 107/ml in rumen of goats fed earlier and later diets,
respectively. Mean sporangia counts were comparable in rumen liquor of goats fed both types of
diets (0.31 vs 0.33 × 105/ml), while total fungi was higher (P<0.05) in goats fed DA-LL (9.62) than
DA-HB (5.04 × 104/ml). On both diets bacteria population was higher at 0 h post feeding, while
population of fungi was higher at 4 than 0 h of feeding. Results revealed that goats had higher
activities of bacteria and fungi on LL supplemented diet.
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Effect of tropical browse leaves supplementation on rumen enzymes of sheep and goats fed Dichanthium annulatum grass-based diets
Sultan Singh, S. S. Kundu
Tropical Animal Health and Production