Three rumen fistulated Baladi Goats were used in two experi ments to investigate the effect of diet and time of feeding upon the concentration of rumen ciliate protozoa. These animals were fed Barseem as green fodder and Sorghum, Bran and Wheat straw as concentrates, each for 30 days as a period of adaptation before spampling. Animals were fed once per day. Samples were collected twice daily at 6 and 22 hours after feeding.
The total protozoal number at 6 hours post feeding was 1604.459
X 10 /ml on concentrates and 474.148 X. 10 /ml on green fodder. At 22 hours post feeding, it was 1080.667 x 10 /ml on oncentrates and 590/03 on green fodder.
On green fodder, eight species were recorded (Isotricha prostoma, Isotricha intestinalis, Dasytricha ruminatum, Entodinium simplex, Entodinium caudatum, Diplodinium, Diplodinium caudatum and Ophryoscolex). While on concentrate ration, five species were present (Isotricha prostoma, Isotricha intestinalis, Diplodinium, Diplodinium caudatumand Entodinium simplex).
On dry concentrate ration, there was significant increase in Diplodinium, Diplodinium caudatum and Entodinium simplex number per cubic millileter rumen content. On green fodder, Isotricha prostom and Isotricha intestinalis number was incresed per millileter.
At 6 hours after feeding, Isotricha species and Entodinium cauda tum increased on green fodder and Entodinium simplex on concentrates. At 22 hours post feeding, Diplodinium species were increased in green and dry ration.