Influence of Sulfur on Fresh Cassava Foliage and Cassava Hay Incubated in Rumen Fluid of Beef Cattle

Abstract

Two male, rumen fistulated crossbred Brahman-Thai native beef cattle (body weight = 400±50 kg), fed on rice straw as a source of roughage, were used as rumen fluid sources. The treatments were 2×3 factorial arrangements; two roughages (fresh cassava foliage and cassava hay) and three sulfur levels (elemental sulfur) at 0.2 (control), 0.5 and 1% of DM, respectively. The experiment revealed that the rates (c) of gas production, ammonia-nitrogen concentration, true digestibility, total concentration or molar proportions of VFA and microbial biomass were not significantly different between cassava hay and fresh cassava foliage. However, all parameters for cassava hay were higher than for fresh cassava foliage. The supplementation of 0.5% sulfur to fresh cassava foliage resulted in a significant increase in the rate of gas production, true digestibility, total concentration of VFA, microbial biomass, rate of HCN disappearance, thiocyanate appearance and cyanide percentage conversion into thiocyanate. However, there were no effects of sulfur supplementation at 0.2, 0.5 and 1% to cassava hay. The finding suggests the utilization of cassava foliage for rumen microorganisms in terms of fermentation and HCN detoxification could be improved by sulfur supplementation of 0.5% of DM.

Effect of feeding fresh, wilted and sun-dried foliage from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) on the performance of lambs and their intake of hydrogen cyanide

“…Contents of CP in FCF, WCF and CH in the present study are slightly lower than in the reports of Dung et al (2005), Khang and Wiktorsson (2006), Phengvichith and Ledin (2007) and Promkot et al (2007). The difference in CP concentration of the cassava foliage could be a result of differences in the proportion of leaves and stems in the harvested material, or in the method of sampling.…”

“…There are large differences between the HCN content in fresh cassava foliage reported by different researchers. According to Khang and Wiktorsson (2006), Promkot et al (2007) and Phengvichith and Ledin (2007), the HCN content in FCF was 983, 1179 and 325 mg/kg, respectively, while only 225 mg/kg was recorded in the experiment of Thang et al (2009). These variations could be explained by the fact that the content of CNGs in cassava foliage depends on variety, stage of maturity, soil fertility and environment.…”

Use of Yeast-Fermented Cassava Roots as a Sole Source of Protein in Beef Cows

“…This may be connected with the chemical composition of YEFECAR, which contains approximately 47.3 mg/kg of HCN (Boonnop et al, 2009) that contributes to loss of appetite in animals Microbial N (gN/d) = X (mmol/d) × 70 0.116 × 0.83 × 1000 (Paulinus and Obaika, 2013). In addition, the presence of HCN in ruminant feed leads to higher levels of sulphur intake or sulphur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine, for HCN detoxification (Promkot et al, 2007;Promkot and Wanapat, 2009;Cherdthong et al, 2018). According to the theory, 1.2 g of sulphur is required to detoxify 1 g of HCN (Wheeler et al, 1975).…”

Effect of Sulfur and Urea Fortification of Fresh Cassava Root in Fermented Total Mixed Ration on the Improvement Milk Quality of Tropical Lactating Cows

“…This might be because increasing concentrations of dietary sulfur and urea may also impact rumen motility and bacterial digestibility of the diet (Table 3). Promkot et al [31] indicated that cows exhibited increased fiber digestibility when fed a diet with 0.4% over those with 0.2% sulfur in their diet. Furthermore, Cherdthong et al [2] found that cattle consuming fresh cassava root in the basal diet with feed block at 4.0% sulfur levels showed improved DM and OM digestibility by 13.0% and 12.1%, respectively.…”

“…In addition, Promkot et al [31] added 0.5% sulfur to DM with fresh cassava foliage for beef cattle, and the findings suggested improved HCN detoxification.…”