Evaluation of fresh rumen fluid challenge on rumen eco-system of buffalo calves under harsh environmental conditions

Abstract

Environmental factors as temperature and humidity are the most influential factor within any ecosystem with no exclusion. Ruminal ecosystem is greatly variated according to the physiological, nutritional and the microclimatic conditions. Temperature and humidity influences were evaluated against the efficiency of fresh rumen fluid (FRF) challenge in buffalo calves on some ruminal performance parameters and microbial community. Twenty male buffalo calves of 5 months old age were selected and divided into four groups, 5 calves for each. Buffalo calves G1; G2; and G3 were challenged with 1 L; 500 mL; and 300mL FRF; respectively. The 1 st group challenged with 1 L FRF showed the highest improvement represented in a highly significant increases (P < 0.01) in the log Total bacterial count (log TBC); Log Lactobacillus count; Log Ruminococcus count; log Total protozoal count (log TPC); Rumen pH; protozoal motility and VFAs at 1 st week of challenge. Ambient temperature revealed a significantintermediate positive (+0.634) correlations with log TPC and relative humidity revealed highly significant strong positive (+0.927) correlation with log Lactobacillus count. Significant intermediate positive (+0.698); a highly significant strong positive (+0.711) correlations between log Ruminococcus count with lactate and log TPC; respectively. Ruminal pH showed a highly significant strong positive (+0.771) correlation with log TPC of sampled ruminal fluid from challenged animals.