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The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of mangosteen peel powder (MSP) on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and microbial population in swamp buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) fed on a rice straw based diet. MSP is a fruit peel that contains plant secondary compounds (condensed tannins and saponins). Eight, rumen-fistulated 4-year old, male swamp buffaloes with 350±4 kg live weight were randomly assigned to receive two dietary treatments (T1=non-supplementation of MSP and T2=supplementation of MSP at 100 g/(head×day)) according to a t -test design. All animals were fed concentrate mixtures at 0.5% of body weight and rice straw was fed ad libitum for 37 days with the first 30 days for feed adaptation and voluntary feed intake measurement, while the last 7 days were for samples collection. The results revealed that there was no difference between treatments on dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility by MSP supplementation ( P >0.05). Furthermore, MSP supplementation did not influence ruminal pH, temperature, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen. Interestingly, propionic acid (C 3 ) production was significantly increased by MSP supplementation ( P 2 ) and butyric acid were similar between treatments. Moreover, C 2 :C 3 ratio was reduced by MSP supplementation. In addition, estimated rumen methane was significantly reduced by MSP supplementation ( P Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus albus ( P >0.05) while total bacteria population were significantly increased by MSP supplementation. The Ruminococcus flavefaciens and methanogens population were significantly decreased as MSP were supplemented ( P

The aim of this study was to determine the ruminal cellulolytic bacterial population in swamp buffalo and beef cattle fed on rice straw by real-time PCR techniques. Four, rumen-fistulated swamp buffalo and four beef cattle (Native × Brahman) were randomly assigned to receive rice straw as a main feed with minimal amount of concentrate. All animals were allowed to adapt to feeds respective before samplings were conducted. It was found that diurnal ruminal pH and NH 3 –N concentration of buffalo were not different with those found in cattle, population of bacteria and fungal zoospores while the protozoal population were lower (P Ruminococcus albus ) in the digesta of swamp buffalo, the results revealed significant higher in buffalo than those in cattle. However, at 4 h post-feeding R. albus were significantly higher in buffalo than those in cattle measured in rumen fluid, while F. succinogenes resulted in higher number in cattle than those in buffalo. Interestingly, the values found in the digesta samples were higher in cellulolytic bacteria than those found in the rumen fluid. This finding indicates higher ability of swamp buffalo in digesting low-quality roughages, especially rice straw.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of Phaseolus calcaratus hay (PCH) supplementation on the intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbial population (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) and methane production in swamp buffaloes fed on rice straw based diet. Four, 2.5 year old rumen fistulated male buffaloes were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments were level of PCH supplementation at 0, 300, 600 and 900 g DM/hd/d as supplements. The PCH contained 18.3% crude protein (CP) and 2.8% condensed tannins (CT). All buffaloes were fed with rice straw ad libitum while additional concentrate (12.6% CP) was fed at 0.3% body weight (BW). The study revealed that PCH supplementation had no effect on rumen temperature, pH, NH3-N and blood urea N. Volatile fatty acid (VFAs), especially those of propionic acid and acetic acid concentrations in the rumen were maximized (P

The objective of this study was to study the effect of YEFECAP (yeast-fermented cassava chip) in replacing soybean meal (SBM) in concentrate mixtures. Four, early lactating (30 ± 13 day-in-milk) Holstein Friesian crossbred cows (50 × 50; HF × Native Thai cattle) were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to receive 4 dietary treatments (4 replacement levels of SBM by YEFECAP at 0, 33, 67 and 100% CP in concentrates). Cows were offered concentrate mixtures according to concentrate:milk ratio at 1:2 Urea (2%)–lime (2%) treated rice straw was a roughage source and fed ad libitum . Measurements of feed intake and collection of feeds, feed refusals, feces, rumen fluid, and blood samples were taken. As a result of this experiment, it was found that, pH values in the rumen were linearly (P 3 –N concentrations were not significantly different among treatments (P > 0.05). BUN and MUN were linearly decreased (P 0.05), hence, proportion of C2/C3 were linearly decreased. Population of bacteria and fungi were linearly increased (P

Three, Holstein Friesian, non-lactation crossbred dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of Eucalyptus (Camaldulensis) leaf meal powder (EUCAP) supplementation on feed intake, digestibility and rumen fermentation. The animals were randomly assigned according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design using three levels of EUCAP supplementation (0, 100 and 200 g/hd/d) and offered rice straw ad libitum, together with concentrate at 0.5% body weight. The results revealed that voluntary feed intake (kg/hd/d) was significantly decreased when EUCAP was supplemented at 200 g/hd/d. Digestibility coefficient (%) of DM, OM, CP, NDF and ADF were similar among treatments. Ruminal temperature and pH were not affected by EUCAP supplementation. However, NH3-N and BUN concentrations were decreased when supplementation of EUCAP at 200 g/hd/d. Ruminal fungal zoospores were not significantly different among treatments, while protozoa, bacteria population by direct counts were significantly reduced with increasing supplementation levels of EUCAP. In addition, viable total bacteria, proteolytic bacteria and cellulolytic bacteria were decreased when EUCAP were supplemented at 100 and 200 g/hd/d while amylolytic bacteria was not different among treatments (P>0.05). Furthermore, total volatile fatty acid concentrations, proportion of acetate, acetate to propionate ratio were reduced with increasing level of supplementation, while, proportion of propionate increased. Methane production was reduced in supplemented treatments at 100 g/hd/d. Supplementation of EUCAP at 100 g/day for ruminants could be on alternative feed enhancer which reduces rumen methane gas production in cattle, while nutrient digestibilities were unchanged. Key words: Eucalyptus, rumen fermentation, rice straw, rumen manipulation, cows.