The comparative study digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and purine derivatives in male, Thai, Swamp buffalo and Thai, Brahman cattle

Abstract

Studies on in vivo digestion, rates of passages, metabolism of nitrogen, urinary purine derivative excretion and blood metabolites were carried out in Thai Brahman cattle and Thai swamp buffaloes (16 months old). The animals were fed mixed diets based on pineapple (Ananas comusus) waste silage containing urea-N (NPN) and true protein from a concentrate (TP). The Brahman cattle (310 +/- 15 kg) were heavier than the swamp buffaloes (195 +/- 9.4 kg) and had higher dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes when compared on the basis of their metabolic body weight (BW(0.75)), but these intakes did not differ significantly when the diets of each animal species were compared. The total tract, apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) were not significantly different between the animal species when comparing the two types of diets. The NDF digestibility was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in both animal species when fed the TP diet, but was significantly (P < 0.01) greater in cattle than in swamp buffaloes. The passage rate digesta k(1) (P < 0.01) and the passage rate digesta k(2) (through the caecum and proximal colon) (P < 0.03) were significantly slower, and the total mean retention time (TMRT) (P < 0.01) was significantly longer in swamp buffaloes when compared to Brahman cattle, but the transit time (TT) showed no difference (P = 0.07) between the animal species or the diets. The N intakes were not different in both animal species and diets, but urine-N was greater (P < 0.05) in Brahman cattle than that in swamp buffaloes. Urine N and digestibility of N were significantly (P < 0.04) higher in animals fed the NPN diet than those fed the TP diet. Urinary purine derivatives (PD) and the creatinine (Cr) excretion of swamp buffaloes were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than those in Brahman cattle. Plasma urea-N (BUN) concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in swamp buffaloes than that in Brahman cattle, but plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Brahman cattle than in swamp buffaloes. The concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different in animals fed different diets. The present study demonstrated that Brahman cattle were better in fiber digestibility than swamp buffaloes at utilizing pineapple waste silage with both N sources.

Apparent Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance, Ruminal Microbial Nitrogen Production and Blood Metabolites in Thai Brahman Cattle Fed a Basal Diet of Rice Straw and Supplemented with Some Tropical Protein-rich Trees

“…It is to be expected that the fermentation pattern in the rumen probably is different when animals are being fed RTP. However, glucose concentration of 72.9-77.0 μmol/ml in the plasma of Brahman cattle in the present study was lower than the range of 78.3-110 μmol/ml observed by Jetana et al (2006;2009) in Brahman cattle.…”

“…This effect of high sugar in RTP, subsequently resulted in the concentration of insulin in the plasma being increased to control glucose metabolism. The range of plasma insulin concentrations of 13.6-22.2 μ.i.u./ml in the present cattle was higher than the range of 8.40-16.6 μ.i.u./ml observed in animals by Jetana et al (2006;2009). It is to be expected that the fermentation pattern in the rumen probably is different when animals are being fed RTP.…”

Efficiency to reach age of puberty and behaviour of buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis) kept on pasture or in confinement

“…The level of digestibility observed in groups FR and C are in line with those reported by other authors. Jetana et al (2009) in a study on the digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and purine derivatives observed that the coefficient of digestibility of organic matter was 0.78 and 0.80 in buffaloes and cattle, respectively. Another comparative study on buffaloes and sheep reported digestibility coefficients of 66.68% v. 64.32%, respectively (Bartocci and Terramoccia, 2006).…”

Rumen Microbial Ecosystem of Domesticated Ruminants

“…Chanthakhoun et al ( 2012 ) reported higher ability of swamp buffalo than cattle in digesting low-quality roughages, and this might be due to the higher number cellulolytic bacteria ( Ruminococcus albus ) in buffalo rumen. Jetana et al ( 2009 ) demonstrated that Brahman cattle were better fi bre utilizer than swamp buffaloes when fed on pineapple waste silage.…”