A. B. SEN1, S. K. M. A. ISLAM2*, A. S. M. G. KIBRIA3, M. M. HASSAN2 and M. S. UDDIN4
1Intern Student, 2Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, 3Department of Anatomy and Histology and 4Research Associate, Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong-4202, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding author’s E-mail:anwarvet@yahoo.co.uk
ABSTRACT
The cross sectional study was carried out for a period of 3 months at Rangunia Upazilla Veterinary Hospital, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) and Chandanaish Upazilla Veterinary Hospital during June 2009 to August 2009 to know the physiological status of rumen fluid in sheep. After collection of rumen fluid from both diseased (anorexic, digestive disordered animal) and healthy animals, different physiological parameters of rumen fluid (e.g. color, odor, consistency, and PH) as well as motility and number of protozoa were observed and counted in relation with different digestive disorders of sheep. This study revealed four (4) colors of rumen fluid viz. greenish, greenish brown, milky gray and greenish black were found 33.33%, 13.33%, 33.33%, and 20% that correspond to normal, alkalosis, acidosis and chronic bloat and indigestion respectively. Four type of odors were found as putrid (40%), aromatic (20%), sour (33.33%) and pungent (6.67%) which indicated the sub-acute indigestion, normal condition, acid indigestion and inactive gastric juice respectively. Consistency was found in following order watery (46.67%), gruel like (26.67%), foamy (20%) and thick watery (13.33%). PH of rumen fluid ranged from 4.5 to 5.9, 6 to7 and 7.1 to 7.9 were found respectively, 40%, 40% and 20% that indicated acidosis, normal condition and alkaline indigestion of sheep. Movement of rumen protozoa were found as vigorous (13.33%), moderate (26.67%), mild (46.67%) and absent (13.33%) which indicated, animals that in anorexic condition, their protozoan motility were mild. This study also helps to interpret that, body temperature; rumen motility, rumination and feeding regimen have a relation with physiological parameters of rumen fluid as well as number of rumen protozoa and their motility.
Keywords: Rumen fluid, Physiological parameter and Protozoa.