Prasad, R.V.Vyas, Y.L.Ravindra, J.P.Jamuna, K.V.Nagaraja C.S.Chandrashekaramurthy, V.Lakshmishree, K.T.2016-07-092016-07-092014-05-10http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/68576Ph.D. ThesisThe gross and histomorphological study was conducted on forestomachs of wild and domestic ruminants. The wet rumino-reticular content (% BW) was more in blackbuck and buffaloe so larger rumino-reticulum. The ruminal papillae were unevenly distributed throughout the rumen in blackbuck, nilgai, buffaloe and sheep where as evenly distributed in spotted deer and goat. The ruminal pillar was thick in blackbuck and buffaloe. The papillae were absent on the ruminal pillars of blackbuck, nilgai, buffaloe and sheep but found on the ruminal pillars of spotted deer and goat. Cellulae reticuli division was more pronounced in buffalo and was absent in spotted deer, sheep and goat. The highest primary crest was found in buffaloe, black buck and least in goat and spotted deer. The omasum was smaller in spotted deer and goat compared to other species. Histologically, forestomach was made up of stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. In rumen, lamina muscularis mucosae was absent but found only in primary reticular crest of reticulum and was distinct in omasum. Histochemically, various intensity of reactions for carbohydrate, protein, fat, keratin and iron were seen. Micromertically, the keratin layer was thicker in spotted deer, sheep and goat. The tunica muscularis of forestomach was thicker in blackbuck and buffaloe. Based on these morphological parameters buffaloe and blackbuck had characteristics of the grazers, goat and spotted deer as browser, where as sheep and nilgai showed the overlapping morphology of both grazer and browsers hence they are classified as intermediates.enlivestock, biological phenomena, animal tissues, layering, proteins, diseases, breeding, area, grasses, fruitsThesis