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Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea, L.) silage can enrich rumen fermentation process, microbial protein synthesis, and nitrogen utilization efficiency in beef cattle crossbreds

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Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of leguminous fodder silage on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and utilization in beef cattle crossbreds. Four cattle, with an average live weight of 280 ± 10 kg, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with supplementation of various levels of sunnhemp silage (SHS). Sunnhemp silage was fed to cattle at 0, 1, 1.5, and 2 kg DM SHS/head/day. The DM, OM, and CP digestibilities were increased (P < 0.05), and the highest value was found by feeding 2 kg DM SHS/head/day. Total volatile fatty acids and individual volatile fatty acid (VFA) especially C3 were increased (P < 0.01), while C2 and C2:C3 ratios were decreased (P < 0.01) when SHS was supplemented. Nitrogen utilization efficiency and urinary purine derivatives were increased (P < 0.01) by the SHS supplementation. In conclusion, these data suggest that feeding SHS at 1.5 to 2 kg DM/ head/day can significantly increase rumen fermentation end-products, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and microbial protein synthesis. Sunnhemp silage can be practically processed and provided as a good roughage source for ruminants. Therefore, sunnhemp silage is recommended as a feeding intervention in the sub-tropical and tropical regions to support the sustainable livestock production.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Thailand for the use of experiment facilities.

Funding

The authors received funding from the Thailand Research Fund under the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (TRF-IRN57W0002 and TRF-IRG5980010).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Metha Wanapat, Pajaree Totakul, Bounnaxay Viennasay & Maharach Matra

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  1. Metha Wanapat
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  2. Pajaree Totakul
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  3. Bounnaxay Viennasay
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  4. Maharach Matra
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Contributions

MW and MM designed the experiment; MM, PT, and BV have done the laboratory analysis, data tabulation, and data interpretation; MW and MM prepared the manuscript; MW and MM edited the manuscript; MW and MM revised and amended the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maharach Matra.

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Ethics approval

This study has been officially approved and granted by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Khon Kaen University to conduct this experiment and approved by the Institute of Animals for Scientific Purpose Development (IAD), Thailand (record no. U1-06878-2560).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Wanapat, M., Totakul, P., Viennasay, B. et al. Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea, L.) silage can enrich rumen fermentation process, microbial protein synthesis, and nitrogen utilization efficiency in beef cattle crossbreds. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 187 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02628-z

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