Effect of defaunation on rumen fermentative pattern in buffaloes.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of defaunation on rumen fermentation pattern in buffaloes maintained on diet containing 40% roughage and 60% concentrate. Three healthy fistulated male buffalo calves fed twice daily were included in this experiment. These buffalo calves were defaunated by intra-ruminal infusion of sodiumdioctyl-sulphosuccinate. The results revealed that total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) concentration in the rumen liquor did not differ significantly between faunated and defaunated animals. However, the concentration of propionate increased, and that of butyrate decreased but acetate remained unaffected as a result of defaunation. Rumen digestion is an extremely complex system of interacting processes involving microbes, feed and animal. 'The microbial population of the rumen is composed of a complex mixture of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. Each of these groups are morphologically and biochemically diverse but their carbohydrate substrate utilization spectra overalp. This versatility compliments the intricate physical structures of the microbial community within the ruminal ecosystem and enables ruminant animals to consume a wide variety offeed stuffs without causing large fluctuations in the amount or type of microbial products produced. Elimination of protozoa greatly modifies the microbial environment of the rumen, however, these modifications are not systemic and the results vary with the experiment. It has been reported that there is decreased availability of metabolisable nutrients or less efficient use of nutrients by animals that have a large protozoal biomass in the rumen. Defaunation is one the means of manipulating rumen fermentation. Most of the studies have been conducted on defaunated sheep and cattle. Information on buffaloes is scanty. The present investigations . describe the effect of defaunation on rumen fermentation pattern in buffaloes.