Influence of Alteration of Rumen Environment by Combining Rumen Inoculum of Cattle and Buffalo in Varying Proportions on In Vitro Digestion and Occurrence of Certain Protozoa

Dry matter and organic matter digestibilities of 4 substrates formulated from two roughages (wheat straw, paddy straw) and two protein supplements (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake) were determined in vitro. Rumen- inoculum from cattle and buffalo in the ratio of 0:10, 2:8, 4: 6, 5: 5, 6: 4, 8: 2 and 10:0 was used. Ophryoscolex purkynei and Epidinium ecaudatum of buffalo rumen and Diplodinium crystagalli from cattle Avere observed at various intervals (0 to 72 hr) in the mixed in vitro system. Irrespective of inoculum, paddy straw-groundnut cake substrates exhibited the highest (58.46, P< 0.05) in vitro dry matter digestibility while it was lowest (45.08%, P< 0.05) in wheat straw combinations. In vitro digestion, irrespective of roughage sources, was markedly higher (P<0.05) in groundnut cake relative to cotton seed cake based diets. In vitro organic matter digestion of feeds followed a pattern similar to that of dry matter. Ophryoscolex purkynei and Epidinium ecaudatum absent in the rumen inoculum of buffalo and Diplodinium crystagalli absent in inoculum of cattle were established under mixed in vitro system. Establishment of Epidinium was better than Ophryoscolex. The protozoa tended to decrease with increase in fermentation period.