Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Gurjinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Jaspal Singh Hundal

Abstract:
The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of ground flaxseed on rumen microbiology and fermentation pattern in male buffalo calves. In all eight apparently healthy, rumen fistulated male buffalo calves of 2.0-2.5 years age, were divided into two groups (control and treatment) of four animals in each group. The experimental animals were kept on complete ration consisting of green fodder, wheat straw, concentrate and mineral mixture. The animals of group II were supplemented with ground flaxseed @ 15% on dry matter basis (in concentrate replacing oilseed cakes) in TMR for 21 days. Rumen liquor samples were collected for 3 consecutive days at different time intervals viz. 0, 1, 3, and 6 hrs post prandial after the period of microbial adaptation. The results revealed that there was significant increase in total bacterial count, total protozoal count, TVFA, total nitrogen and molar percentage of propionate following supplementation of ground flaxseed with significant decrease in ammonia nitrogen, molar percentage acetate and butyrate. However, following supplementation of ground flaxseed, there was no significant change in percentage of holotrichs and entodiniomorphs as compared to control group. It can be concluded from the investigation that that oral administration of ground flaxseed in feed improved the digestive efficiency of animals by enhancing rumen microbial population and improving the concentration of rumen metabolites.