Abstract

Rumen contents obtained from eight adult domesticated goats (Capra hircus L.) at slaughterhouses in the southeastern area of Turkey were surveyed for ciliate protozoa. As a result of our survey, 12 genera including 39 species were identified. Fifteen of the species were further divided into 35 formae. The average ciliate density in the rumen contents of Turkish goats (33.21x104 /ml) was less than that of other ruminants from Turkey and other domestic goats reported previously from different geographical areas. However, the number of genera, species and forms living in the rumen of Turkish goats were found to be higher than that of the goats in different countries around the world. The rich faunal content of the southeastern Turkish domestic goats shows the zoogeographical importance of SE Anatolia.