Effect of supplementing the Dicanthium annulatum hay diet with tree leaves on microbial activity in the rumen of goats

Abstract

Four adult goats (mean body weight 29.0±2.65 kg) were fed Dicanthium annulatum-Leucaena leucocephala (DA-LL) and Dicanthium annulatum-Hardwickia binata (DA-HB) in 50:50 ratio in switch-over experiment to assess the effect of tree leaves supplementation on rumen concentration of protozoa, their generic distribution, bacteria and fungi. Animals were maintained on each diet for more than 3 months and rumen liquor was collected at 0 and 4 h post feeding. Mean protozoa counts were 5.98 and 5.03×105/ml in goats supplemented with LL and HB, respectively. Entodiniomopha were the most dominant (88.0%) rumen protozoa on both diets. Total viable, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacteria population was higher (P<0.05) in rumen of goats fed DA-LL (23.74, 11.22 and 29.66) than DA-HB diet (10.52 × 108/ml, 6.31 × 108/ml and 11.02 × 107/ml), while the concentration of proteolytic bacteria was 8.64 and 6.23 × 107/ml in rumen of goats fed earlier and later diets, respectively. Mean sporangia counts were comparable in rumen liquor of goats fed both types of diets (0.31 vs 0.33 × 105/ml), while total fungi was higher (P<0.05) in goats fed DA-LL (9.62) than DA-HB (5.04 × 104/ml). On both diets bacteria population was higher at 0 h post feeding, while population of fungi was higher at 4 than 0 h of feeding. Results revealed that goats had higher activities of bacteria and fungi on LL supplemented diet.