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Four Thai - rumen fistulated male swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), about four years old with 400±20 kg liveweight, were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design to receive dietary treatments. The treatments were: ground corn cob (GCC) replacement for cassava chip (CC) in concentrate at 0% (T1); GCC replacement at 33% (T2); GCC replacement at 67% (T3); and GCC replacement at 100% (T4), respectively. During the experiment, concentrate was offered at 0.5% BW while 5% urea-treated rice straw was given at ad libitum. The result revealed that there was no effect of GCC replacement on DMI among treatments. In addition, digestibilities of DM, OM and CP were not different while aNDF linearly increased with an increasing level of GCC replacement. However, GCC replacement did not affect rumen fermentation such as ruminal pH, NH3-N and VFA concentration; except C3 proportion which was the highest at 33% replacement while the lowest was at 100% replacement. All replacements of GCC resulted in similar protozoal and bacterial populations and microbial protein synthesis (MPS). Purine derivatives (PD) concentration in urine and PD to creatinine (PDC) index were varied with time of urination and among treatments at 0 to 8 and 8 to 16 h post feeding and higher values were shown among the GCC replacement groups. However at 16 to 24 h-post feeding, it was untraceable. In addition, creatinine concentration was similar among all treatments at every sampling time. Based on the above results, GCC can be used as an energy source for swamp buffalo fed with rice straw. Spot sampling of urine can be used for purine derivatives determination.

Four rumen-fistulated swamp buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis) were randomly allocated to investigate rumen adaptation of urea on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, fermentation efficiency, and microbial protein synthesis. Buffaloes were fed with rice straw ad libitum for a period of 2 weeks and then were shifted to a step-up diet regimen by supplementation of concentrate containing 20 and 40 g/kg urea at 5 g/kg BW for a period of 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. The results revealed that feed intake and nutrient digestibility were increased by urea supplementation ( P < 0.05) both at two and four period of consumption. However, ruminal pH, temperature, and protozoal population were neither affected by urea nor adaptation period ( P > 0.05) while bacterial and fungal zoospores were increased especially at 40 g/kg urea. Data from real-time PCR further showed that total bacteria and the three predominant cellulolytic bacteria ( Ruminococcus albus, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens) were increased by urea supplementation both at 2 and 4 weeks of urea feeding. Furthermore, methane production was similar among treatments while microbial protein synthesis was enhanced when buffaloes were fed with urea after a period of 2 weeks especially at 40 g/kg urea ( P < 0.05). It can be concluded that urea supplementation could increase feed intake, nutrient digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and fermentation efficiency of swamp buffaloes fed on rice straw. It is suggested that buffaloes could adapt well and utilize urea as a N source effectively within a period of 2 weeks uptake without adverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four rumen-fistulated beef cattle were randomly assigned to four treatments according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study the influence of urea and calcium hydroxide [Ca( OH)2] treatment of rice straw to improve the nutritive value of rice straw. Four dietary treatments were as follows: untreated rice straw, 50 g/kg urea-treated rice straw, 20 g/kg urea + 20 g/kg calcium hydroxide-treated rice straw and 30 g/kg urea + 20 g/kg calcium hydroxide-treated rice straw. All animals were kept in individual pens and fed with concentrate at 0.5 g/kg of BW ( DM), rice straw was fed ad libitum. The experiment was conducted for four periods, and each period lasted for 21 days. During the first 14 days, DM feed intake measurements were made while during the last 7 days, all cattle were moved to metabolism crates for total faeces and urine collections. The results revealed that 20 g/kg urea + 20 g/kg calcium hydroxide-treated rice straw improved the nutritive value of rice straw, in terms of dry matter intake, digestibility, ruminal volatile fatty acids, population of bacteria and fungi, nitrogen retention and microbial protein synthesis. Based on this study, it could be concluded that using urea plus calcium hydroxide was one alternative method to improve the nutritive value of rice straw, rumen ecology and fermentation and thus a reduction of treatment cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four rumen-fistulated Thai native swamp buffaloes were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to assess the effect of protein (CP) level and urea (U) source in concentrate diet on feed utilization and rumen ecology. The treatments were as follows: concentrate containing CP at 120 g/kg (soybean meal, SBM) (T1), 160 g/kg (SBM) (T2), 120 g/kg (U) (T3), and 160 g/kg (U) (T4), respectively. All buffaloes were fed concentrate at 10 g/kg of body weight, and rice straw was offered ad libitum. Feed intake and digestibilities of CP, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber increased ( P < 0.05) in treatments with higher level of CP especially with U source ( P < 0.05). In contrast, CP level and source in concentrate did not affect on ruminal pH and temperature ( P > 0.05), while concentration of ruminal ammonia (N), blood urea (U), volatile fatty acids profile, microorganism populations, and variable bacterial growth increased in buffaloes consumed concentrate containing CP at 160 g/kg (T2 and T4; P < 0.05). Fecal and urinary N excretions decreased in buffaloes consumed concentrate containing higher CP level especially with U source while purine derivatives increased which resulted in a higher N balance as compared to lower CP level and SBM source treatments ( P < 0.05). In summary, higher CP level in concentrate improved feed intake, nutrient digestibility, purine derivatives, and rumen ecology, and U had shown better result than SBM. Concentrate mixtures containing 16 g/kg CP with U 40 g/kg could improved nutrients utilization with no adverse effects for swamp buffaloes fed on rice straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers, two and a half year old with liveweight of 220 ± 15.0 kg, were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study the effect of banana flower powder (BAFLOP) supplementation as a rumen buffering agent on ruminal pH, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation fed a high-concentrate diet. The four dietary treatments were BAFLOP supplementation at 0, 10, 20 and 30 g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. During the experimental periods, all steers were fed a diet containing roughage to concentrate ratio of 30:70 at 20 g DMI/kg of body weight and rice straw was used as a roughage source. Based on the present study, the results revealed that dry matter, organic matter and crude protein digestibilities were not affected (P>0.05) by BAFLOP supplementation, whereas digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber increased with the increasing levels of BAFLOP supplementation (P<0.05). It was also found that total nitrogen (N) intakes were similar among treatments. However, fecal N excretions decreased with the increasing levels of BAFLOP supplementation, while urinary N excretions were similar among treatments. BAFLOP supplementation increased N balance both absorption and retention (P<0.05). Moreover, purine derivative absorption and microbial protein synthesis were increased by BAFLOP supplementation, whereas efficiency of microbial nitrogen supply (EMNS) and microbial nitrogen supply were similar among treatments. In addition, ruminal temperature, ammonia nitrogen, and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by BAFLOP supplementation, whilst ruminal pH enhanced (P<0.05) in steers supplemented with BAFLOP at 20 and 30 g/kg of DMI. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid and acetic acid increased with BAFLOP supplementation, whereas propionic and butyric acid remained the same. The present findings showed that BAFLOP supplementation enhanced total bacterial, protozoal, and cellulolytic bacterial growth, while numbers of fungal zoospores, amylolytic and proteolytic bacteria were similar among treatments. In conclusion, BAFLOP supplementation improved rumen ecology and nutrient digestibility by enhancing ruminal pH, nitrogen utilization, EMNS and ruminal microbial population. This study suggested that BAFLOP could be supplemented as a rumen buffering agent at 20–30 g/kg of DMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of Phaseolus calcaratus hay (PCH) supplementation on the intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbial population (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) and methane production in swamp buffaloes fed on rice straw based diet. Four, 2.5year old rumen fistulated male buffaloes were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design. The treatments were level of PCH supplementation at 0, 300, 600 and 900g DM/hd/d as supplements. The PCH contained 18.3% crude protein (CP) and 2.8% condensed tannins (CT). All buffaloes were fed with rice straw ad libitum while additional concentrate (12.6% CP) was fed at 0.3% body weight (BW). The study revealed that PCH supplementation had no effect on rumen temperature, pH, NH3-N and blood urea N. Volatile fatty acid (VFAs), especially those of propionic acid and acetic acid concentrations in the rumen were maximized (P<0.05) at 600g/hd/d feeding level. However, concentrations of each VFA and the acetate to propionate ratio did not differ among treatments. Bacterial, protozoal and fungal zoospore populations were maximized (P<0.05) at the intermediate PCH feeding levels. Rumen methane gas production was decreased linearly (P<0.05) with increasing level of PCH supplementation. N utilization in the buffaloes differed among treatments, with PCH supplementation linearly increasing N retention and efficiency of microbial N supply. Furthermore, PCH supplementation linearly increased (P<0.05) in terms of total DM intake, apparent digestibility of CP and OM, while, DM, NDF and ADF digestibilities were not affected. Supplementation of PCH at 600g/hd/d was beneficial in swamp buffaloes fed rice straw as a basal roughage, as it resulted in increased DM intake, reduced protozoal and methane gas production in the rumen, increased N retention as well as efficiency of rumen microbial CP synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: New rumen slow-release urea products were made by mixing urea with calcium chloride (U–Cal) or calcium sulphate (U–Cas) in concentrate mixtures containing a high level of cassava chip and were subsequently evaluated on feed intake, rumen fermentation, rumen microbes, microbial protein synthesis, and performance of lactating dairy cows. Three, multiparous Holstein crossbred dairy cows in early-lactation with an initial body weight of 380±15kg were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments of UCM products [T1=urea (control); T2=urea–CaCl2 mixture product (U–Cal); and T3=urea–CaSO4 mixture product (U–Cas)] according to a 3×3 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted for 21days during which feeds, rumen fluid, and blood were collected as well as milk yield. The findings revealed significant improvements in intake of OM and ME and apparent digestibilities of OM and NDF by using U–Cas in concentrate diets (P<0.05). Ruminal NH3–N and blood urea N in U–Cal and U–Cas, were found significantly lower as compared with the urea supplemented group (P<0.05), while milk urea nitrogen resulted in normal ranges. Volatile fatty acid concentrations especially those of propionic acid were increased (P<0.05) in cows fed with U–Cas products than those in other treatments. Total viable bacteria, fungal zoospores, and cellulolytic bacteria were significantly different among treatments and were greatest in U–Cas supplementation (8.5×1011, 8.1×104, and 2.1×109 cfu/mL, respectively). Moreover, the use of real-time PCR technique provided that the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes was relatively higher than those of Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus. Efficiency of rumen microbial N synthesis based on OM truly digested in the rumen was enriched by U–Cas supplementation. Milk yield was additionally increased by respective treatments, while 3.5% fat-corrected milk was highest; ranking from U–Cas, U–Cal, and urea alone treatment fed groups, respectively. Based on this study, it could be concluded that supplementation of U–Cas in concentrate supplementation containing a high level of cassava chip significantly improved apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, and milk yield in lactating dairy crossbreds fed on rice straw. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]