Comparative ruminal biochemical and digestion related physiological characteristics in buffaloes and cattle fed a fibrous diet

摘要

Nitrogenous metabolites, volatile fatty acids (VFA), cellulase activity and digestion of feed dependent on some physiological characteristics were compared in buffaloes and cattle fed on a wheat straw-berseem hay diet (12% CP). Buffaloes digested more (P<0.01) DM and fibrous components than cattle without any change in their voluntary feed intake. Rumen cellulase concentration was higher in buffaloes but the rate of outflow of digesta from rumen to omasum was slower (1.9 litres/h) than in cattle (2.2 litres/h). Positive (P<0.01) correlations existed between the intakes of DM, cellulose and hemicellulose, and DM digestibility in both ruminants. Rumen profiles of nitrogenous metabolites, barring ammonia-N and fractionated VFA were higher (P<0.01) incattle than in buffaloes. However, rumen ammonia-N was higher in buffaloes (P<0.01) than in cattle reflecting better activity of intracellular deaminases and differential salivary recycling of urea. Similarly blood serum urea contents were higher (P<0.01) in buffaloes than in cattle.