Technical cashew nut shell liquid associated with non-protein nitrogen sources in high-grain diets for ruminants: intake and digestibility of nutrients, ruminal fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association of technical cashew nut shell liquid (tCNSL) and two sources of non-protein nitrogen (NPN), dry matter intake (DMI), the partial and total apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients, ruminal fermentation, microbial synthesis, and blood characteristics. Four Holstein steers (438 kg ± 17.14 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannula were used. Diets had (in DM basis) 135 g kg?1 of crude protein and 746 g kg?1 of total digestive nutrients. The roughage to concentrate ratio was 30:70. The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square with 14-day experimental periods. The non-protein nitrogen sources used were livestock urea (U) and slow-release urea (SRU) (Optigen® II). The treatments consisted of diets containing U or SRU associated or not with tCNSL. The tCNSL was added to the diet in a proportion of 300 mg kg?1 of concentrate. DMI and ruminal, intestinal and total apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients were not affected by experimental diets. The association of sources of NPN and tCNSL did not affect pH, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), and microbial synthesis of animals consuming high-grain diets.

Effect of Feeding Concentrate Mixture Containing Varying Levels of Cashew Nut Kernel Meal on Nutrient Utilization in Ram Lambs

“…The improved NDF digestibility might be attributed to the adequate microbial efficiency stimulated by various cashew by-products. However, non-significant differences were observed in Holstein steers fed cashew nut shell liquid (Osmari et al, 2019). The high digestibility values of cell wall constituents obtained in the treatment group as compared to the control group in the present study might be attributed to the ability of ruminants to degrade structural carbohydrates.…”