Aiming at obtaining the community profile and verifying the occurrence of antagonism and association among ciliates, samples of rumen content were analysed in 100 bovines soon after their death. The animals were killed at the lUi z de Fora Municipal slaughter house (lui z de Fora, Minas Gerais State. 04; 03) and Bue/schlia Schuberg, 1888 (0,02: 01). When the antago lll sti c behaviour and the associati on were analyzed, it was observed that ElidiplodilliLl/Il was detected in the absence of

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... the absence of Polyplastron and in the presence of Epidill/ l1l/! in 94% and 73% of the samples, respectively. These data confi rm the antagonism and the coexistence among particular populations of rumen ciliates and allowed the identification of 94% of the samples examined as being of profile type B, none of type A and 3% of mixed A-B community and of type O. It is suggested the use of the term community profile instead of population profi le, as the respective types invol ve associations of various ciliate populati ons. KEY WORDS . Rumen ciliate, behaviour, bovine. co mmunity profile. antagonism Revta bras.