Características do fluido ruminal em ovinos da raça Santa Inês criados sob regime extensivo

Abstract

It was pretended with this research to establish standards of normality for ruminal fluid characteristics, such as color, odor, consistency, sedimentation and flotation time (SFT), pH, bacterial activity by means of the methylene blue reduction test (MBRT), chloride, total acidity (TA) and microscopical evaluation of protozoa and bacteria, in rainy (winter) and dry (summer) seasons in Garanhuns city, Pernambuco state. Fifty Santa Inês sheep had been used, with age varying between one and four years, created in extensive regimen of pasture composed by Brachiaria decumbens, and still receiving Pennisetum purpureum as alimentary complement and water and mineral salt ad libitum. The predominant colors had been chestnut tones in summer and oliva green in winter. The aromatic odor was observed in all the samples, being stronger in winter. The slight viscous consistency predominated in both seasons, with greater proportion in the winter. The SFT was 6,73 ± 1,63min in winter and 3,15 ± 0,72min in summer, with statistic significant difference (P<0,05) between experimental periods. In the biochemical tests the average values found in winter and summer, respectively, were: pH: 6,76 ± 0,21 and 6,59 ± 0,14; MBRT: 3,20 ± 0,76min and 7,76 ± 3,00min; chloride: 28,14 ± 4,16mEq/L and 24,97 ± 5,65mEq/L; TA: 21,90 ± 4,38UC and 13,68 ± 2,97UC; having statistic significant differences (P<0,05) between seasons for all variable. Abundant density of the infusorians in winter and moderate in the summer was observed, with statistic significant differences (P<0,05) between the stations. The motility was very active and there were approximately 90% of live protozoa, having no significant statistic difference (P>0,05) between the experimental periods for these variable. Protozoa numbers were higher in winter with 425 373 ± 217 258/mL and 155 375 ± 83 113/mL in the summer, having significant statistic difference (P<0,05). There was a mixed population of bacteria with predominance of Gram-negative forms in both seasons. It could be evidenced from these results: The station of the year influences ruminal fluid characteristics, since it provides feed of better quality in the winter (rainy period) when compared with summer (dry period) having difference between all the variable during the experimental periods, pointing out the importance of determine them for each locality, type of handling and animal species, in sight to one better aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases who gets digestive system of sheep.