Ciliate protozoa in the rumen of a zebu fed with roughage and concentrates

Abstract

Aiming to verify quantitative differences on ciliate protozoa concentrations in the rumen of zebu cattle (Nelore) compared to water buffalo (Mediterranean), both receiving 65% of coast-cross hay plus concentrate (ground corn - 20% and cotton seed meal - 15%), fed twice a day (8:00 am and 4:00 pm), with a complete salt mixture ad libitum. Feed composition was: 88.8% dry matter; 9.9% crude protein and 2.4 Mcal digestible energy/kg. Four animals, rumen cannulated averaging 530 kg of live weight were used. A completely randomized experimental design with a repetition on time was utilized. Zebu showed higher total concentration of ciliate protozoa (p < 0.05), with better ruminal adaptation to the diet. No differences in the concentration of the genera Entodinium spp., Epidinium spp.,  Diplodinium spp. And Isotricha spp. were detected between zebu and buffalo four to six hours after meals (p > 0.05), probably due to the stabilization of the cellular division.