Table 7.

Total population of bacteria, protozoa, and archaea (copy number/mL ruminal fluid) in crossbred heifers fed (long-term) with and without Gliricidia sepium mixed with Enterolobium cyclocarpum

Rumen microbes, copy number/mL	Phase 0				Phases 1 to 5
	E + G:0	E + G:0	SEM	P	E + G:0	E + G:15	SEM1	P
								Diet2	Time	D*T3
Total bacteria [log10]	9.59	9.46	0.26	0.603	9.50	9.59	0.08	0.610	0.812	0.662
Total protozoa [log10]	7.48	7.43	0.24	0.195	7.25	7.21	0.06	0.730	0.901	0.692
Methanogenic archaea [log10]	6.72	6.76	0.28	0.751	6.62	6.59	0.08	0.873	0.831	0.655
Relation archaea:bacteria	0.70	0.71	0.02	0.356	0.70	0.69	0.01	0.685	0.740	0.668

¹SE = standard error.

²E + G:0 = Control diet; E + G:15 = Diet with E. cyclocarpum 7.5% + G. sepium 7.5%.

³D*T = Interaction of Diet and Time.