COMPARISONS OF RUMINAL FERMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS AND MICROBIAL-POPULATIONS IN BISON AND CATTLE

Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared. No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations, or ruminal pHs were evident between bison and cattle. Also, no significant differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility, indigestible fiber retention time, or intake were detected between bison and cattle, although cattle had higher levels (P -4ml/g, respectively) than in cattle (15.7 × 104/g and 162.2 × 10-4 ml/g, respectively). Bison harbored higher (P