The Comparison of Ruminal Protozoa Morphology and Population of Holstein Cow and Khuzestan Water Buffalo under the Same Feeding Regimen

The aim of this experiment was to compare the population and morphology of ruminal protozoa of Holstein and Khuzestan water buffalo steers fed with the same diet. Rumen fluid collected from cow and buffaloes (12 head) that were fed with the same diet، 30:70 concentrate: forage. The collected samples were fixed by formaldehyde 18. 5%، and ciliates were counted and their genus and species were determined. The results of this experiment showed، total rumen protozoal number of khuzestani water buffalo was higher than the cattle (3. 68×105 vs. 2. 18×105/ mL of rumen content، respectively). The genus of Diplodinium، Entodinium، Epidinium، Ophryoscolex and Holotriches of cow and water buffalo was 37. 63، 48. 77، 0، 3. 75، 9. 83 and 44. 47، 42. 35، 5. 31، 0. 68، 7. 18 %، respectively. There was no species from Epidinium genus (Epidinium ecaudatum and Epidinium cudatum) and Diplodinium cristagalli species in the rumen of cattle، but they found in the rumen of khuzestani water Buffalo. Also it was identified that there was Ophryoscolex purkynei in both rumen cattle and water buffalo، but in the rumen of cattle was higher in comparison to the buffalos. Therefore، it appears under the same diet، there is a significant difference in total rumen protozoal number and species of Holstein cow and Khuzestani water buffalo.