Effect of protein level and urea in concentrate mixture on feed intake and rumen fermentation in swamp buffaloes fed rice straw-based diet

Abstract

Four rumen-fistulated Thai native swamp buffaloes were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to assess the effect of protein (CP) level and urea (U) source in concentrate diet on feed utilization and rumen ecology. The treatments were as follows: concentrate containing CP at 120 g/kg (soybean meal, SBM) (T1), 160 g/kg (SBM) (T2), 120 g/kg (U) (T3), and 160 g/kg (U) (T4), respectively. All buffaloes were fed concentrate at 10 g/kg of body weight, and rice straw was offered ad libitum. Feed intake and digestibilities of CP, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber increased (P < 0.05) in treatments with higher level of CP especially with U source (P < 0.05). In contrast, CP level and source in concentrate did not affect on ruminal pH and temperature (P > 0.05), while concentration of ruminal ammonia (N), blood urea (U), volatile fatty acids profile, microorganism populations, and variable bacterial growth increased in buffaloes consumed concentrate containing CP at 160 g/kg (T2 and T4; P < 0.05). Fecal and urinary N excretions decreased in buffaloes consumed concentrate containing higher CP level especially with U source while purine derivatives increased which resulted in a higher N balance as compared to lower CP level and SBM source treatments (P < 0.05). In summary, higher CP level in concentrate improved feed intake, nutrient digestibility, purine derivatives, and rumen ecology, and U had shown better result than SBM. Concentrate mixtures containing 16 g/kg CP with U 40 g/kg could improved nutrients utilization with no adverse effects for swamp buffaloes fed on rice straw.

Improvement of nutritive value of cassava pulp and in vitro fermentation and microbial population by urea and molasses supplementation

“…However, there was no different effect among each level of U and M supplement. Rumen fermentation and digestibility were increased with the increasing levels of U supplement, which could be due to the increased rate of rumen microorganisms growth resulting from the presence of more available N in the form of ammonia from the hydrolysis of U (Boucher et al 2007;Khattab et al 2013;Kang et al 2015). In addition, Wanapat, Kang, Khejornsart et al (2013) reported that the supplementation of U and M could increase rumen degradability of whole-crop rice silage.…”

Effect of urea and molasses supplementation on quality of cassava top silage

“…The true digestibility was increased regardless M dose (M0.5 = M1 = M2), and the NDF digestibility was the highest in M2 group. The lack of U influence on in vitro true and NDF digestibilities is rather surprising as it is supposed that rumen fermentation and digestibility increases with the U supplementation due to the increased rumen microorganisms growth rate as there is more available N in the form of ammonia from the urea hydrolysis (Khattab et al, 2013;Kang et al, 2015). Moreover, found that supplementation of U and M could increase rumen degradability of whole crop rice silage.…”

Influence of Customized Supplement on Voluntary Feed Intake and Nutrient Metabolism in Crossbred Calves

“…Similar to our results, Reddy and Reddy (1988) reported that dietary supplementation of energy and protein increased the digestibilities of nutrients in crossbred calves. Similarly, Kang et al (2015) reported increased digestibility of CP, NDF and ADF in buffaloes fed high protein diet. Khattab et al (2013) also observed significantly higher digestibility of DM, OM and CP in sheep with increasing dietary urea levels, which could be attributed to the increased growth rate of rumen microorganisms as more available N in form of ammonia from the hydrolysis of urea (Boucher et al 2007).…”

“…Khattab et al (2013) also observed significantly higher digestibility of DM, OM and CP in sheep with increasing dietary urea levels, which could be attributed to the increased growth rate of rumen microorganisms as more available N in form of ammonia from the hydrolysis of urea (Boucher et al 2007). Furthermore, the dietary protein supplementation increases total tract digestibility in ruminants consuming lowquality forage (Kang et al 2015). Supplementing the CON diet with synchronous supply of both rapidly fermentable energy and rumen degradable protein through customised supplement had shown a positive associative effect on digestibility of DM by accelerating the growth of rumen microbes (Yulistiani et al 2015).…”

“…Wang et al (2019) reported that, lambs diet supplemented with 0.5 kg extra concentrate per day had significantly higher DM and OM intake than those fed on control diet. Furthermore, several other reports suggest that, DM intake was significantly increased in buffaloes and sheep fed concentrate containing higher level of CP with additional urea and hypothesized that a proportionate inclusion of NPN compound contributed to improved rumen fermentation and digestibility (McGuire et al 2013;Sweeny et al 2014;Kang et al 2015). The probable explanation for the higher DM intake owing to the fact that, the customized supplement has sufficient fermentable energy, easily degradable N and trace minerals to support and create the conducive environment for the growth of rumen microbes leading to optimized rumen fermentation.…”