COMPARATIVE-STUDY ON THE RUMEN CILIATE POPULATIONS IN SMALL EXPERIMENTAL HERDS OF WATER-BUFFALO AND KEDAH-KELANTAN CATTLE IN MALAYSIA

Seventeen ciliate species were identified from water buffalo and Kedah Kelantan cattle in Malaysia. Although most of these species have been detected from domestic ruminants in tropical and temperate areas, the presence of Metadinium ypsilon and Ostracodinium trivesiculatum is ch aracteristic of Malaysian cattle and water buffalo. The average number s of ciliates per milliliter of rumen contents were similar to those f ound in other areas. However, the level of Metadinium and Eudiplodiniu m, considered to be fermenters of cellulosic materials, was higher. Th is suggests that Malaysian cattle and water buffalo possess a ciliate protozoal composition favorable for digestion of cellulosic feed stuff s. There were no differences in the ciliate profile between the cattle and water buffalo. A similar pattern of diurnal change in the ciliate number of respective genera to that reported previously was also foun d in both Malaysian cattle and water buffalo.