Effect of experimental period on the apparent absorption of mineral macroelements in cattle fed with two diet levels of forage

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of forage levels in diet (30% and 70%) and experimental periods (14 and 21 days) on the total and partial apparent absorption (AA) of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) and on the partial and total coefficient of apparent digestibility (CAD) of dry matter (DM) in cattle. Four Holstein steers fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square. High concentrated diets showed higher intestinal and total CAD (p < 0.01) to DM and ruminal and total AA (p < 0.01) to P. The experimental period affected intestinal and total (p < 0.05) AA of Ca that was higher for of 21 days experimental period. There was interaction between forage level and experimental period where higher intestinal and total AA of Ca (p < 0.05) for diets with low forage was observed.