Abstract

STUDY ON DIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY OF RUMEN IN SELECTED CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT ADDIS ABABA ABATTOIR, ETHIOPIA

Haftu Kahsay and Kibeb Legesse*

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2009 to April 2010 on 210 cattle in Addis-Ababa abattoir, originating from every corner of the country including Addis Ababa for the aim of quantifying functional rumen microbial groups and looking at the factors affecting the ruminal environment. During the study, the randomly selected animals were restrained by the assistants and the specimen was collected by inserting the stomach tube until it reaches the rumen. Likewise collecting the rumen content was done immediately after the animals get slaughter. Finally the rumen content were examined for their color, consistency, cotton thread breaking ability and their activity (denoted by motion) of the protozoa on microscopic glass slide. Up on doing the above examinations prevalence of 77.8% (87/210), 82.8% (30/210) was recorded from color content of green and yellow-brown respectively with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Prevalence of 75.9% on slight viscous, 71.4% extremely and 2% milky were also recorded when looked on the consistency. Furthermore, the pH and Cellulose (Cotton breakage ability) were statistically significant (P<0.05) with the prevalence of 75.1% (basic) and 4.8% (acidic); and 82.4% (unbroken cotton) and 7.5% (broken) recorded respectively. In conclusion, this study has indicated that there is a serious decrease in the motile protozoa number, especially those of medium sized and large sized with over dominance of the small sized protozoa. This is the basic base line data for rumen digestion environment and for future further studies.

Keywords: Abattoir, Cattle, Rumen.