comparison digestibility and protozoa population of khuzestan water buffalo and holstein cow

the major aim of this study was to compare the morphology and activity of rumen protozoa of khuzestan water buffalo and holstein cow using in vitro digestibility and gas production parameters of steam treated sugarcane pith. rumen fluid obtained from two buffalo and cow steers fed the same diet, 30:70 concentrate: forage. to separate rumen protozoa, antibiotic solution and fungicides were added to rumen fluid. the results of present experiment indicated that the neutral detergent fiber (ndf; 7.8 vs. 1.69%) and acid detergent fiber (adf; 6.24 vs. 3.24%) digestibility of steam treated sugarcane pith by rumen protozoal population of khuzestan buffalo was higher than those of cow (p < 0.05). also, digestibility of dry matter, ndf and adf by whole buffalo micro-organisms was more than those in cow (p < 0.05). the results indicated that the potential of gas production of sugarcane pith by rumen protozoa in water buffalo was more than that of cow (p < 0.05). total rumen ciliate protozoa numbers in water buffalo were significantly higher than those of cow (3.68 × 105 vs. 2.18 × 105 ml-1 of rumen content) (p < 0.05). the number of diplodinium in buffalo was more than that of cow (41.27 vs. 35.7% of total rumen protozoa, respectively). percentage of entodinium, epidinium, ophryoscolex and isotricha in cow was more than those of buffalo. therefore, in the same diet, protozoa and total rumen micro-organisms of khuzestan water buffalo have higher digestion activity compared to holstein cow.