Rumen Ciliate Protozoa in Ohio White‐tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Rumen contents were obtained from 23 white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), located in the eastern portion of central Ohio. Samples were taken during late fall and winter over a 4‐yr period, 1986–1990. Protozoan numbers ranged from 0.002 to 7.25 × 106 per ml of rumen contents, with a mean of 2.96 × 106. Six deer had protozoan concentrations higher than any values previously reported in ruminants. In all 23 animals, Entodinium dubardi was the only ciliate protozoan species present.