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Intake and digestibility in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage and supplemented with nitrogenous compounds

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Abstract

The effects of supplementation with nitrogenous compounds on intake, digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage were assessed. Five rumen fistulated crossbred Holstein × Gir heifers were used, with initial average live weight of 180 ± 21 kg. Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) hay (48.6 g kg−1 of crude protein (CP), on a dry matter (DM) basis) was used as roughage. Five treatments were defined according to nitrogen supplementation level (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 g of CP kg−1 above the CP level of the hay). A mixture of urea, ammonium sulfate, and albumin at the ratios of 4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively, was used as nitrogen source. The experiment consisted of five experimental periods, according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The average CP contents in the diets were 51.9, 71.1, 86.0, 116.7, and 130.2 g kg−1, on a DM basis. A quadratic effect was detected (P < 0.10) of the CP levels in the diets on DM and neutral detergent fiber intake (kg/day), with maximum response at the levels of 102.4 and 100.5 g CP kg−1 DM, respectively. The average daily concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen showed increasing linear pattern (P < 0.01) as function of CP levels in the diet, with estimated value of 9.64 mg dL−1 equivalent to the maximum DM intake. Microbial nitrogen flow in the intestine was linearly and positively related (P < 0.01) with the CP levels in the diet.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36571-000

    Claudia B. Sampaio, Edenio Detmann, Mario F. Paulino, Sebastiao C. Valadares Filho, Marjorrie A. de Souza, Isis Lazzarini, Pedro V. Rodrigues Paulino & Augusto C. de Queiroz

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  1. Claudia B. Sampaio
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  2. Edenio Detmann
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  3. Mario F. Paulino
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  4. Sebastiao C. Valadares Filho
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  5. Marjorrie A. de Souza
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  6. Isis Lazzarini
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  7. Pedro V. Rodrigues Paulino
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  8. Augusto C. de Queiroz
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Correspondence to Edenio Detmann.

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Sampaio, C.B., Detmann, E., Paulino, M.F. et al. Intake and digestibility in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage and supplemented with nitrogenous compounds. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 1471–1479 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9581-7

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