Original Article |
2006, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 265-276
Effect of energy sources and levels supplementation on ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in dairy steers
Sittisak Khampa, Metha Wanapat, Chalong Wachirapakorn, Ngamnit Nontaso, and Michael Wattiaux
pp. 265 - 276
Abstract
Four rumen fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments (Factor A = source of energy; CM = corn meal, CC = cassava chip), (Factor B = level of supplementation; 1 and 2% of BW). Four dietary treatments were used: CM1, CM2, CC1 and CC2, respectively. The results exhibited the differences between levels of CM and CC as energy sources. Supplementation of cassava chip at 2 %BW resulted in lower ruminal pH did of CM1, CM2, CC1 (P<0.05). However, ruminal VFA concentrations were similar. Moreover, cellulolytic bacteria populations decreased according to energy source and supplementation level. Furthermore, DM and CP digestibilities were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments. The result from this experiment suggested that energy sources; cassava chip, affected bacteria and fungi ecology (P<0.05), especially at high level of supplementation at (2% BW).