Changes of Rumen Protozoa Population in Cattle Fed with Grasses.

Protozoa population, and its species in the rumen and pH of fresh rumen lipuid which has been collected by a catheter at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hours after feeding of the grasses were determined. The results obtained were as follows : Numbers of protozoa were lowest at 2, 4 hours after feeding and increased significantly for 3, 6 hours, but a extent of changes was small unitil 4 hours. pH values of rumen liquid essentially changes with the numbers of rumen protozoa and tend to minimize at 2 hour after feeding. Protozoa were classified with the stained preparations of diluted rumen liquid as follows : Isotrichaspp.(I. prostoma, I. intestinalis), Dasytricha spp.(D. ozaki, D. ruminantium, D. rectum, D. nipponicum), Entodinium spp. (E. nanellum, E. bursa, E. longinucleatum. E. simplex, E. caudatum, E. rostratum), Eudiplodinium spp. (Eu. Neglectum bovis, Eu. Rostratum, Eu. Maggii), Ostracodinium spp. (O.denta tum, O. gracile) and Epidinium spp. (Ep. Ecaudatum, Ep. Caudatum). Population of Entodinium spp. Has changed inversely to Isotricha and Dasytricha spp..