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The objective of this study was to determine the influence of urea and whole soybean meal or calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] treatment on sugarcane bagasse nutritive values and in vitro fermentation. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) and the dietary treatments were sugarcane bagasse treated with urea ( 0, 20, 40g/kg) and whole soybean meal or Ca(OH)2 (0, 25, 50g/kg). It was found that the protein content of sugarcane bagasse was significantly increased by whole soybean meal and urea treatment, and the values ranged from 65-71 g/kg DM. On the other hand, treatment of Ca(OH)2 50 g/kg with urea 40 g/kg could reduce (p<0.05) fiber content of sugarcane bagasse and the values were 533, 514 and 104 g/kg DM for NDF, ADF and ADL, respectively. Gas production from the insoluble fraction (b), potential extent of gas production (a+b) and cumulative gas production were significantly increased (p<0.05) in sugarcane bagasse treated with urea 40 g/kg and urea 40 g/kg + whole soybean meal 25 g/kg (55.3, 53.5 and 50.1 ml), respectively. Urea and Ca(OH)2 treatment could increase DM and OM degradability, true digestibility and microbial mass of sugarcane bagasse(p<0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of C3, C2 and C2:C3 were improved by urea and whole soybean meal or Ca(OH)2 treatment. In addition, methane production was decreased in sugarcane bagasse treated with urea 40 g/kg in the present study. Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that treatment of urea and Ca(OH)2 was an alternative method to improve the nutritive value of sugarcane bagasse, gas production, digestibility and ruminal fermentation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of protein sources and roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio on in vitro fermentation parameters using a gas production technique. The experimental design was a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A was 2 levels of protein sources yeast fermented cassava chip protein (YEFECAP) and soybean meal (SBM) and factor B was 5 levels of roughage to concentrate (R:C) ratio at 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100, respectively. Rice straw was used as a roughage source. It was found that gas production from the insoluble fraction (b) of YEFECAP supplemented group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in SBM supplemented group. Moreover, the intercept value (a), gas production from the insoluble fraction (b), gas production rate constants for the insoluble fraction (c), potential extent of gas production (a+b) and cumulative gas production at 96 h were influenced (p<0.01) by R:C ratio. In addition, protein source had no effect (p>0.05) on ether in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic (IVOMD) while R:C ratio affected the IVDMD and IVOMD (p<0.01). Moreover, YEFECAP supplanted group showed a significantly increased (p<0.05) total VFA and C3 while C2, C2:C3 and CH4 production were decreased when compared with SBM supplemented group. In addition, a decreasing R:C ratio had a significant effect (p<0.05) on increasing total VFA, C3 and NH3-N, but decreasing the C2, C2:C3 and CH4 production (p<0.01). Furthermore, total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus populations in YEFECAP supplemented group were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in the SBM supplemented group while fungal zoospores, methanogens and protozoal population remained unchanged (p>0.05) as compared between the two sources of protein. Moreover, fungal zoospores and total bacteria population were significantly increased (p<0.01) while, F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens, R. albus, methanogens and protozoal population were decreased (p<0.01) with decreasing R:C ratio. In conclusion, YEFECAP has a potential for use as a protein source for improving rumen fermentation efficiency in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to study the effect of YEFECAP (yeast-fermented cassava chip) in replacing soybean meal (SBM) in concentrate mixtures. Four, early lactating (30±13day-in-milk) Holstein Friesian crossbred cows (50×50; HF×Native Thai cattle) were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design to receive 4 dietary treatments (4 replacement levels of SBM by YEFECAP at 0, 33, 67 and 100% CP in concentrates). Cows were offered concentrate mixtures according to concentrate:milk ratio at 1:2 Urea (2%)–lime (2%) treated rice straw was a roughage source and fed ad libitum. Measurements of feed intake and collection of feeds, feed refusals, feces, rumen fluid, and blood samples were taken. As a result of this experiment, it was found that, pH values in the rumen were linearly (P<0.01) increased when increasing replacement levels of SBM by YEFECAP while ruminal NH3–N concentrations were not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05). BUN and MUN were linearly decreased (P<0.01) when increasing YEFECAP level. Total VFA and propionic acid (C3) were linearly increased (P<0.05) when increasing YEFECAP level and were highest at 100% of replacement, while butyric acid (C4) and acetic acid (C2) were not significantly different among treatments (P>0.05), hence, proportion of C2/C3 were linearly decreased. Population of bacteria and fungi were linearly increased (P<0.01), especially the population of total viable bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, amylolytic bacteria and proteolytic bacteria. Dry matter intake and organic matter digestibilities were linearly increased (P<0.05) by YEFECAP levels. Moreover, increasing YEFECAP level was closely associated with linearly increased (P<0.01) in milk yield, milk fat and milk protein. Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that YEFECAP can fully replace SBM in concentrate mixtures for milking dairy cows on enhancing rumen fermentation, dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield and compositions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of supplementing Delonix regia (DR) seed meal on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, nitrogen balance and CH 4 production in Thai native beef cattle fed on rice straw. Four Thai native beef cattle with the initial body weight (BW) of 100 ± 5.0 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to receive DR seed meal supplementation at 0, 90, 180 and 270 g/d. The present results revealed that the total intake (g/kg BW 0.75 ) was significantly increased with the inclusion of dry matter (DM) seed meal at 270 g (P < 0.05). DM and OM digestibility were decreased when increasing DR seed meal levels (P < 0.05). Ruminal NH 3 -N concentration increased in beef cattle receiving DR seed meal. Supplementation of DR seed meal did not alter fungal zoospores’ concentration (P > 0.05), whereas the protozoal population was at 0, 4 h post feeding, and the mean values reduced when increasing the levels of DR seed meal supplemented (P < 0.05). The concentration of propionic acid at 4 h post feeding and its average concentration were significantly highest when 270 g DR seed meal was supplemented (P < 0.05). Estimation of CH 4 concentrations and CH 4 per dry matter intake were found reduced when increasing its DR seed meal concentration. In addition, N absorption, N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake were enhanced when 270 g DR seed meal was supplemented (P < 0.05). Thus, the inclusion of DR seed meal at 270 g/d resulted in improving total feed intake, rumen fermentation and N balance whereas there was reduced DM digestibility, protozoal population and CH 4 production in beef cattle fed rice straw base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]