Abstract:

【Objective】 The objectives of this paper were to investigate microbial population in the rumen of Xuhuai white goat, including bacteria and protozoa. 【Method】 Four Xuhuai white goats fitted with rumen cannula were used to provide rumen liquor. 16S rDNA amplified by PCR, and the techniques of cloning and sequence analysis, were applied in this work to interpret the bacterial community structure, as well as the method of cell-counting for protozoal group. 【Result】 The results showed that, rumen bacteria could be divided into two main clusters, which were R. bromii, and R-7, while XHGR2 belonged to another cluster of R. flavefaciens. Ruminococcus had a big size in bacterial population, which accounting for 33.33% against total clones. Rumen protozoa were up to 44.83% of rumen total biomass, a little lower than bacteria in the proportion. There were several protozoal genera, such as Entodinium, Diplodinium, Epidinium, Ophryoscolex, and Isotrichidae, were detected in the rumen. Entodinium was more density than the others, and accounting for 74.25% of the total population. 【Conclusion】 All in all, the biomass of protozoa was close to that of bacteria, in the rumen of Xuhuai white goat. Ruminococcus sp. and Entodinium sp. were the majority groups in the rumen, for the groups of bacteria and protozoa, respectively.

Key words: Xuhuai white goat, straw, rumen, bacteria, protozoa, population