Infusorial concentration in rumen fluid of red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and moufflon

Abstract

Infusorial concentrations in rumen fluid of red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and moufflon indigenous of North and South Moravia were studied during the vegetation period and during the winter season. The total number of 178 shot animals was examined. Concentration of infusoria was determined by counting in Fuchs-Rosenthal counting chamber. During the vegetation period, infusorial concentrations per ml of rumen fluid were within the range of 547-927 × 103 in red deer, 118-785 × 103 in roe deer, 257-726 × 103 in fallow deer and 385-865 × 103 in moufflon. In the winter season, infusorial concentrations found in all of the four studied game species were significantly lower in comparison to the vegetation period. The type of the locality influenced infusorial concentrations only in the winter. Sex or age of the examined animals had no influence on infusorial concentrations.