The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying ratios of roughage to concentrate on rumen fluid among different species of ruminants, specifically focusing on rumen fermentation characteristics and the population of rumen microorganisms. The investigation utilized a 3×2 factorial in CRD, incorporating four replications. The inoculum sources included three animal species (swamp buffalo, beef cattle, and goat), while the dietary treatments consisted of two roughages to concentrate ratios: 100:0 and 70:30, using dry leucaena leaves as the source of roughage. The kinetic values of fermentation, gas production, and IVDMD showed significant differences across treatments (p<0.05). The swamp buffalo and the 70:30 ratio exhibited the greatest gas production and IVDMD, while beef cattle followed, and goats produced the least (p=0.004, p<0.001, p=0.001). The swamp buffalo and the 70:30 ratio exhibited the highest concentration of ammonia nitrogen (p<0.001, p=0.002). The ratio of concentrate to roughage influences the overall production of VFAs, the proportion of C2, C3, the C2:C3 ratio, and methane emissions (P<0.05). The 70:30 ratio demonstrated superior performance compared to the 100:0 ratio. Additionally, the interaction effect revealed that a 70:30 feeding ratio in swamp buffalo resulted in a significant increase in the populations of bacteria, fungi, and R. albus (p<0.001). The research indicates that the characteristics of rumen fermentation, digestibility, and the population of rumen microorganisms varying outcomes across different ruminant species. Furthermore, these factors can be enhanced by utilizing a 70:30 ratio of roughage to concentrate.
Keywords | Beef cattle, Goat, Roughage to concentrate ratio, Rumen fermentation, Swamp buffalo