Author : Zaenal Bachrudin Masduqie

Summary : Twelve goats assigned to different age groups (Group I - 2 weeks old; Group II - 3 weeks old; Group III - 4 weeks old; Group IV - 4 weeks old; Group V - 4 weeks old; and Group VI - 32 weeks old) were fed with the same ration except for Groups I and Group II which received additional whole cow's milk for one week. Samples of rumen ingesta were taken from every animal at the designated age after slaughter. The bacterial counts (all expressed in count x 10 (superscript 9) per ml of rumen ingesta) increased significantly during the fifth and sixth week, that is, from 6.1 to 10.1 for bacteria on complete medium, 3.1 to 8.6 for bacteria on starch medium, and 2.3 to 8.2 for bacteria on cellulose medium. Thereafter, the counts did not differ signifantly. The mean percentage of starch-using bacteria increased significantly from 14.4 percent of the total isolates in the seventh week to 57.9 percent in the eight week. The percentage of lactate-using bacteria did not differ significantly among age groups. Facultative anaerobic bacterial count was significantly higher during the fifth week than in any other age except during the fourth week, while the hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria decreased significantly from sixth-seventh week, from 64.1 percent to 25.9 percent respectively. During the fourth and fifth week, the dominant isolate group was the undifferentiated LACTOBACILLUS-BIFIDOBACTERIUM while in the sixth and eighth week, the dominant group was BUTYRIVIBRIO-SELENOMONAS. Results indicate that the rumen of goats reached the adult phase in terms of bacterial type and count in seven weeks. This finding is important for proper timing of the introduction of solid food to young goats. Thus, kids in confinement may be successfully raised completely on roughage and concentrate at seven weeks of age.