No abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of dietary levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, rumen parameters and nitrogen retention of crossbred beef cattle (Black Angus × Zebu crossbred). Four male cattle at 17.5±1.78 (Mean±SD) months of age with an average live weight of 262±20.5 kg (Mean±SD) was allocated in a 4x4 Latin square design. The treatments were 47, 51, 55 and 59% NDF in diets corresponding to NDF47, NDF51, NDF55 and NDF59 treatments following the previous findings of the in vitro experiment. Each experimental period was two weeks including one week for adaptation and another one for sampling. The results showed that nutrient intakes (kg/animal/day) were similar (P>0.05) among treatments, however DM and OM intakes were numerically higher for the NDF55 treatment compared with the others. Digestibilities (%) of DM and OM were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments and gradually decreased from the NDF47 to NDF59, however these values between NDF51 and NDF55 were not significantly different (P>0.05). Rumen pH, N-NH 3 , and VFAs concentration values before (0h) and 3h after feeding were similar (P>0.05) among treatments. Nitrogen retention value was numerically higher in NDF47, NDF51 and NDF55 treatments compared with NDF59 treatment (P>0.05) and a similar trend of the observed daily weight gain was found in the treatments. It was concluded that increasing levels of NDF in cattle diets from 47 to 59% reduced DM and OM digestibility while nitrogen retention and daily weight gain decreased slightly. Content of 55% NDF in the diet could be properly recommended for further study in terms of available forage utilization and daily weight gain.

No abstract

Water hyacinth silage (EWH) was used in this experiment. Four growing sheep (19.8±0.43kg) were allocated in a 4x4 Latin square design with 4 treatments including Para grass (EWH0), replacement of 15% Para grass by ensilaged water hyacinth (EWH15), replacement of 30% Para grass by ensilaged water hyacinth (EWH30), replacement of 45% Para grass by ensilaged water hyacinth (EWH45). The study aimed to evaluate effects of replacement of ensilaged water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) in the diets (DM basis) on feed intake, rumen parameters, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention of growing sheep. There was a supplementation of coconut meal, soybean cake and urea to adjust the CP content of diets being 17%. Each experimental period was 14 days including 7 days for adaptation and 7 days for sample collecting. The results showed that DM, OM, CP and NDF of EWH were 19.0, 84.2, 11.2 and 54.2 %, respectively. The DM and CP intake were similar (P>0.05) among the treatments, however, the NDF intake was significantly higher for the EWH0 and EWH15 as compared to EWH30 and EWH45. The nutrient digestibility (DM, OM, CP, NDF) were not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments and ranged from 66.4 to 67.3%. The results indicated that EWH could be used to replace Para grass at a level of 30% in growing sheep diet

No abstract