Effects of supplementation of wheat straw based complete feed blocks with fungal zoospores and sulphur on rumen fermentation in buffalo calves

Eighteen Murrah buffalo calves of similar age and body weight were divided into three groups of six each and fed on a complete feed blocks (concentrate mixture 50%, wheat straw 43%, molasses 6% and urea1%) along with 2 kg green oats in group1 while feed block of group 2 was supplemented with purified fungal zoospores of Neocallimastix spp. GR-1 (group 2) and group 3 feed blocks provided to group 2, 1% wheat straw was replaced (w/w) by sodium sulphate. Experimental feeding continued for a period of 120 days after which rumen liquor samples were collected for three consecutive days by using a stomach tube from all the calves before feeding. Concentration of TVFA's, Total-N and TCA-precipitable N in SRL was significantly higher (P<0.05) while that of ammonia N was lower (P<0.05) in group 3 than in other groups. The total no of zoospores and bacteria/ml SRL were significantly higher and total number of protozoa/ml SRL was lower in sulphur supplemented group as compared to other groups.