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Effect of Early Establishment of Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen on Microbial Activity and Growth of Early Weaned Buffalo Calves

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, Egypt, U.A.R.

ABSTRACT

Thirty-eight female water buffalo calves were divided into four groups. In Group 1 (control) each calf received 340 kg of milk in 120 days. In Groups 2, 3, and 4 each calf was fed on 103 kg of milk in 45 days, plus a high quality ration which was gradually replaced by a low quality ration after 45 days, 75 days, and 120 days, respectively. Half of the calves in each group were inoculated with the rumen contents obtained from a fistulated adult buffalo. The establishment of rumen ciliate protozoa, microbial activity, and growth of inoculated calves were compared with uninoculated animals in the four groups.

No active protozoa were established in half of the uninoculated calves before four months of age; Entodinium appeared in the other half at about two months of age. On the other hand, a thriving mixed population of protozoa developed within six days of inoculation.

There was a tendency for higher VFA and ammonia-N concentrations in the rumen of inoculated calves. There was no difference between inoculated and uninoculated calves in blood urea and blood reducing sugars.

The inoculated calves showed faster growth rates than the uninoculated calves. The effect was particularly obvious in groups where the good quality ration was replaced with a low quality one after 45 and 75 days. It was less pronounced for calves given the high quality ration for 120 days.