Levels of degradable protein given to heifers for the ciliate protozoa concentration and other ruminal parameters

  • José Carlos Machado Nogueira Filho USP
  • Susana Maria Martin-Orúe Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Joaquim Balcells Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Manuel Fondevila Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Denise de Souza Ablas USP

Abstract

In this experiment four Holstein heifers fitted with rumen and duodenum canulae were utilized to evaluate the rumen parameters as pH, passage rate (%/h), volume (L) and ciliated protozoa concentration, when fed diets with four levels of rumen degradable protein. This was achieved supplementing 0, 25, 50 or 75 grams of degradable protein per kg of concentrate as a urea and casein (98.2% OM and 93.2% CP). The diets had 25% of barley straw without treatment and 75% concentrate formulated to contain different proportions (25/75 and 75/25) of corn and barley and also 5% of wheat residue and 5% of mineral and vitamin supplement. A continuous infusion of Cr-EDTA was used as a liquid phase marker. A cross-over design with 8 treatments (2 diets and 4 degradable protein levels) were utilized in 8 balance periods in a factorial arrangement. The level of degradable protein significantly affected the mean pH values that decreased as the supplementation increased (P < 0.05) mainly in the corn based diet. The passage rate of the liquid phase, similar for the diets, was lower in the first experimental period (8.65 vs. 10.56%/h) and decreased as the level of degradable protein increased. Ciliated protozoa had higher concentration (P < 0.01) in the corn diet (79.1 x 103/mL) than in the barley diet (59.5 x 103/mL). The Entodinium genus represented 87.8% of the total population. The genus Epidinium showed lower values (P < 0.05) in the barley diet (3,73 vs. 1.89 x 103/mL) and in the second experimental period (4,40 vs. 1.25 x 103/mL). The estimates of total ciliated in the rumen were 26.6 vs. 22.1 x 103/mL, respectively for the corn and barley diets (P < 0.05). The ciliated species detected were typical of high concentrate diets.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

José Carlos Machado Nogueira Filho, USP
possui graduação em Medicina Veterinaria pela Fac Med Veterinaria e Zootecnia (1973) , graduação em Medicina Veterinaria pela Fac Med Veterinaria e Zootecnia (1973) , graduação em Medicina Veterinaria pela Fac Med Veterinaria e Zootecnia (1973) , mestrado em Nutrição Animal pela Universidade de São Paulo (1981) , doutorado em Ciências dos Alimentos pela Universidade de São Paulo (1985) e pos-doutorado pela Universidad de Zaragoza (1998) . Atualmente é professor titular da Universidade de São Paulo. Tem experiência na área de Zootecnia , com ênfase em Nutrição e Alimentação Animal. Atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Nutrição, búfalos, Zebú, Protozoários de rúmen, Degradabilidade Currículo Lattes
Published
2008-05-09
How to Cite
Nogueira Filho, J. C. M., Martin-Orúe, S. M., Balcells, J., Fondevila, M., & Ablas, D. de S. (2008). Levels of degradable protein given to heifers for the ciliate protozoa concentration and other ruminal parameters. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 23, 945-951. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v23i0.2650
Section
Animal Science

0.9
2019CiteScore
 
 
29th percentile
Powered by  Scopus