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In vitro gas production in rumen fluid of buffalo as affected by urea‐calcium mixture in high‐quality feed block
Author(s) -
Cherdthong Anusorn,
Wanapat Metha
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.12168
Subject(s) - rumen , propionate , randomized block design , urea , dry matter , chemistry , fermentation , zoology , organic matter , food science , agronomy , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
This study aimed to determine the effect of urea‐calcium sulphate mixture ( U ‐cas) levels in high‐quality feed block ( HQFB ) on ruminal digestibility, fermentation and gas kinetics in rumen fluid of swamp buffalo by using in vitro techniques. The treatments were seven levels of U ‐cas incorporated in HQFB at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18% and the experimental design was a completely randomized design. Gas production rate constants for the insoluble fraction, potential extent of gas and cumulative gas were linearly increased with increasing levels of U ‐cas in HQFB . The in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro organic matter digestibility, true digestibility and microbial mass were altered by treatments and were greatest at 18% U ‐cas supplementation. Concentrations of propionate were linearly increased with increasing levels of U ‐cas and was highest with U ‐cas supplementation at 18%. The NH 3 – N concentration was highest when urea was added in the HQFB while NH 3 – N concentration tended to be reduced with increasing level of U ‐cas. The findings suggest supplementation of 18% U ‐cas in HQFB improves kinetics of gas production, rumen fermentation, digestibility and microbial mass as well as controlling the rate of N degradation in the rumen of swamp buffalo.