Effect of Transinoculation of Rumen Contents Between Cattle and Buffalo on Feed Intake, Nutrient Digestibility and Rumen Metabolites

Transinoculationsofrumencontents, studied on adult male rumen fistulated cattle and buffalo, 4 each, fed on wheat straw-groundnut cake diet (10–12%CP) revealed non-significant difference in DM intake in both species, though cattle exceeded (P<0.05) buffalo in ingestion of DM (% body weight, Kg per unit W0.75) besides digesting more (P<0.05) CP, NDF and hemicellulose. Process of re-exchange of rumen contents enhanced (P<0.05) the digestion of NDF, ADF and cellulose without any change in the digestibility of hemicellulose and slashed digestion in dietary CP. The digestion of cellulose was improved due to exchenge of rumen content. The ruminal profile of total-N, protein-N, NPN, acetate and propionate was also augmented due to this process in relation to that of pre-excliange stage. Transinoculation did not influence voluntary DM consumption, however, digestibility of fibrous components of diet and ruminal metabolism of nitrogenous constituents barring ammonia improved markedly.