EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF YEAST CULTURE ON RUMEN PROFILE AND IN VITRO RUMEN FIBRE DIGESTIBILITY IN CROSSBRED COWS

Cannulated Holstein Friesian crossbred milking cows (Two) were maintained on control diet (T1) and another (T2) on experimental diet for six weeks. The rumen fluid was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours of post feeding from seventh week for analyzing pH and TVFA (Total volatile fatty acids) concentration. The mean pH and TVFA levels of T1 and T2 groups were 6.91±0.05 and 6.52±0.07; 79.77±2.10 and 90.67±3.35 mMol/l, respectively. The ruminal pH values were significantly lower (p<o.05) and the TVFAs concentration were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T2 groups. The experiment was continued for another six weeks under same feeding regime for adaptation before collection of rumen liquor for in vitro studies. Two crop wastes viz. finger millet straw (FMS) and rice straw and two fibrous by-products like deoiled rice bran (DORB) and sunflower extraction (SFE) were subjected for in vitro rumen digestibility of the fiber and gas production. The mean net gas production (ml/200 mg DM), NDF and ADF digestibility in T1 and T2 groups were 28.01±1.19, 27.19±1.64; 35.52±1.70, 34.20±1.60 and 16.25±2.53, 18.86±2.72. The net gas production and NDF digestibility of substrates ragi straw, rice straw, deoiled rice bran and sunflower extraction were non significant but the digestibility of ADF found to be significant (p<0.05) between control and treatment groups.