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Effect of treating sugarcane bagasse with urea and calcium hydroxide on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation in beef cattle

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Abstract

Four beef cattle with initial body weight of 283 ± 14 kg were randomly allocated according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study on the effect of feeding sugarcane bagasse (SB) treated with urea and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The treatments were as follows: rice straw (RS), untreated SB (SB), 4 % urea-treated SB (SBU), and 2 % urea + 2 % Ca(OH)2-treated SB (SBUC), respectively. The results revealed that cattle fed with SBU and SBUC had higher feed intake and apparent digestibility. Ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were increased in cattle fed with SB as roughage source (P < 0.05). Feeding SBU and SBUC to cattle resulted in higher propionic acid and lower acetic acid, acetic to propionic ratio, and methane production (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of fungi was increased in SBU- and SBUC-fed groups while protozoa population was unchanged. This study concluded that the nutritive value of SB was improved by urea and/or Ca(OH)2 treatment, and feeding treated SB could increase feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. This study suggested that SB treated with 2 % urea + 2 % Ca(OH)2 could be used as an alternative roughage source for ruminant feeding.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and the research and development institute, Udon Thani Rajabhat University through the Research Grant for New Scholar (contract no. TRG5780118) for their financial support. Special thank to the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology-Isan, Sakon Nakhon Campus for providing experimental animals and laboratory. Thank to Rerm Udom sugar factory CO., LTD. for providing sugarcane bagasse. The cooperation of Kannika Opatawong, Aleeya Promnoy, and Kriangkai Pimdawhom who participated in this study and the Increase Production Efficiency and Meat Quality of Native Beef and Buffalo Research Group, Khon Kaen University was highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Animal Production Technology, Faculty of Technology, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani, 41000, Thailand

    Nirawan Gunun

  2. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Metha Wanapat & Anusorn Cherdthong

  3. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology-Isan, Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, 47160, Thailand

    Pongsatorn Gunun

  4. Agro-Bioresources, Faculty of Natural Resources and AgroIndustry, Kasetsart University, Chalermphakiat Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, Thailand

    Pichad Khejornsart

  5. Agricultural Unit, Department of Education, National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Sungchhang Kang

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  1. Nirawan Gunun
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  2. Metha Wanapat
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  3. Pongsatorn Gunun
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  4. Anusorn Cherdthong
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  5. Pichad Khejornsart
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  6. Sungchhang Kang
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Correspondence to Nirawan Gunun.

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Gunun, N., Wanapat, M., Gunun, P. et al. Effect of treating sugarcane bagasse with urea and calcium hydroxide on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation in beef cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 1123–1128 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1061-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1061-2

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