भाषा:
By Dr. Ibne Ali, IMN PyrophosUpdated October 20267 min read
  • Buffalo is ruminant – in our another video we have given basic information about rumen.
  • So rumen is first thing which we have to keep in mind while thinking about buffalo nutrition.
  • Second thing is that buffaloes are tropical and sub tropical animals and they evolve in harsh warm humid environment which impact with the availability of feed.
  • Now we have to realize that digestion of poor feed is quite better in buffaloes than cattle it means buffaloes can be rear on dry poor type of feed than cows.
  • In this article we will see digestion in buffaloes, how it is different and better than cows and also see how buffaloes can rear on poor quality feed.

So here we start with rumen microbiology

  • The major function of the rumen is to retain the ingested feed for as long a time as is necessary for microbial digestion.
  • The digestion process in the rumen is activated largely by a variety of rumen microbes. Microbial fermentation in the reticulo-rumen is achieved mainly by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa, and to a lesser extent by certain fungi.
  • Of the groups of micro-organisms present in the rumen, the most important group is the rumen bacteria (rumen flora).
  • The total rumen bacterial population in the buffalo is 16.2xl0^8/ml, while in cattle it is 13.2×10^8 /ml. The different species of rumen bacteria are grouped according to the substrates they act on. The major groups of bacteria are described below. The stabilization of this bacterial population can be successfully done by Rumenia.
Buffaloes have stronger digestion than cows, here is proof
  • Celluloytic bacteria: This is the largest group of bacteria in the rumen and the substrate they act on is cellulose. The main species within this group are; Bacteriodes succinogen, Ruminococcus flavofaciens and Ruminococcus albus. The densities of these bacteria are estimated to be 2.6 x 10'8/ml and 6.9 x 10'8/ml in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. The viable bacterial percentages in cattle and buffaloes are 20% and 42% respectively.
  • Amylolytic bacteria: The major substrate that this group acts on is starch or amylose. The main species of bacteria that use amylose are Bacteroides amylophilus and Streptococcus bovis. The total bacterial counts for each of the species, on straw based diets are 11.0 x 10'8/ml in buffalo and 8.6 x 10'8/ml in cattle, and the viability percentages are 68% and 65%, respectively. However, incorporation of soluble carbohydrates in the feed or the provision of less mature grasses, which are rich in starch and sugars can increase the bacterial population.
  • Proteolytic bacteria: The common species of rumen bacteria generally do not use protein as the major energy source. However, about 30-50% of the bacteria isolated exhibited proteolytic activity towards extracellular proteins. Most species of bacteria exhibit proteolytic activity with the exception of the main cellulotytic bacteria, B. succinogen, R. flavofaciens and R. albus. Bacteroides amylophilus is one of the active proteolytic species present in the rumen. These are amlylolytic bacteria which are very important in the fermentation of starch-rich diets.
  • The function of the proteolytic bacteria is the breakdown of dietary proteins into peptides and subsequently to ammonia. The total population of p’roteolytic bacteria in the buffalo is 0.54 x 10'8/ml and in cattle 0.41 x 10'8/ml on straw based diets, while the percentage viability count is 3% in both species.
Buffaloes have stronger digestion than cows, here is proof
  • Methanogenic bacteria: This group of bacteria is important in the rumen for the removal of excess hydrogen that is produced in the rumen during carbohydrate fermentation and also to keep the rumen environment at a low hydrogen partial pressure. The most important species in this group is Methanobacterium ruminantium.
  • Rumen protozoa: The population of protozoa in the rumen of cattle maintained on fibrous feeds is low (100,000/ml), but when fed on diets rich in starch or sugars, it could be as high as 4,000,000/ml in the rumen, many species of protozoa are present, but the major species are (a) Entodiniomorphids and (b) Holotrichs.
  • The Entodiniomorphids which are able to take up soluble components, mainly depend on engulfment of particulate matter. They feed on bacteria, starch granules, cellulose and hemicellulose.
  • The Holotrichs are a ciliated type of protozoa widely found in the reticulo-rumen. The three principal hoiotrich species in the rumen are, Isotricha intestinalis, Isotricha prostomia, Dasytricha ruminantium.
  • The normal population of holotrichs is 100,000/ml, but this population increases when the diet is rich in soluble carbohydrates. The protozoa retained in the rumen are subjected to substantial lysis within the rumen. During re-mastication, bacteria and other soluble material are released from the mouth when the feed bolus is squeezed, and immediately passes into the omasum via the reticulum, while the protozoa remain in the squeezed bolus. This is due to the large size of cilia which attach them to large particles. Substantial amounts of protozoa are not only retained in rumen but also in the omasum within its more complex structure.
  • Rumen fungi: Anaerobic fungi that inhabit the rumen have been isolated recently. These fungi belong to the phytomycaetes group. The vegetative stage of fungi carries sporangia developed from rhizoids (similar to the hyphae). These rhizoids grow within plant tissues. When roughage is ingested. sporangia immediately release zoospores which enter the new plant tissues through damaged parts of the plant or stomata of the leaves. Fungi are the first organisms to invade plant structural components starting from the inside. This reduces the tensile strength and facilitates the commencement of bacterial fermentation.
  • Microbial interactions in the rumen: Types of microbes present in the rumen vary according to the species of livestock, feed and the time after feeding. However, the final products of fermentation are almost the same. Interaction of bacteria with bacteria in the rumen is very common. Most of the microbes in the rumen cannot survive long. They are interdependent as the end- products of one species becomes the substrate for another species. Therefore, in the absence of the first species, the survival of the latter species is uncertain. There is evidence to support the suggestion that end-products obtained from one species when present in a mixed culture is different from those from the same species in a pure culture. This indicates the inter-dependence of species for substrates that are either end-products or intemediate products. Many different species of bacteria are involved in the fermentation of cellulose to VFA. The relationship between hydrogen producing and hydrogen utilising bacteria is well recognised. These associations (syntropic associations) are mutually beneficial to the species and little can be done to alter these associations other than by inhibition of methanogenesis.
  • Another common interaction in the rumen is that between bacteria and protozoa. Generally, protozoa predate on bacteria by engulfing (ensiling) them. 'This leads to low bacterial populations and as a result the colonization around structural feed particles is reduced. This will result in an increase in the retention time of feed in the rumen. Such conditions can be acute when the diet of the animal is low in soluble carbohydrates and rich in structural components. Under these circumstances, it is mandatory for protozoa to predate on bacteria for energy and nitrogen. Protozoa depend mainly on soluble starch and sugars. Once these are engulfed by the protozoa, they are stored within cells. Thus the competition between protozoa and bacteria for sugars and starch is very severe. Often when high sugar containing diets are fed, protozoa out-number the bacteria. One advantage is that in certain situations, protozoa reduce the severity of acidosis on some diets. Elimination of protozoa from the rumen (defaunation) increases the bacterial numbers in the liquid pool. The apparent dry matter digestibility is increased by 18% under defaunated conditions.
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A rumen mineral system designed for buffaloes giving 10–18 litres. Supports rumen function, feed utilization, milk and fat %, with comfort in heat stress. Safe for long-term daily use.

Dose: 40–50 g per adult buffalo per day, 10 g for calves and heifers, or 1–1.5 kg per quintal of feed.

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Trace minerals, rumen buffer, prebiotics, yeast extracts, probiotics, toxin binders, calcium, phosphorus and rumen fermentation modifiers. Improves rumen function, microbial stability, fermentation and energy and protein synthesis. 25 kg bag ₹5,625.

Dose: 2.5 kg per 100 kg feed.

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Need help with feeding or a health problem in your cows or buffaloes? Message Dr. Ibne Ali on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp: 98715 84101
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