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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of protein supplementation in the rumen, abomasum, or both on intake, digestibility, and nitrogen utilisation in cattle fed high-quality tropical forage

E. D. Batista A C , E. Detmann A , D. I. Gomes B , L. M. A. Rufino A , M. F. Paulino A , S. C. Valadares Filho A , M. O. Franco A , C. B. Sampaio A and W. L. S. Reis A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Zootecnia, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/no., Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil.

B Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Departamento de Zootecnia – Campus de Parauapebas, Caixa postal no. 3017, Bairro Cidade Nova, Parauapebas, Pará, 68515-970, Brazil.

C Corresponding author. Email: erickdarlisson@gmail.com

Animal Production Science 57(10) 1993-2000 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15736
Submitted: 3 October 2015  Accepted: 29 May 2016   Published: 5 September 2016

Abstract

Effects of differing proportions of ruminal and abomasal protein infusion on intake, digestion, ruminal dynamics and the metabolic parameters of nitrogen (N) compounds were evaluated in beef bulls fed high-quality tropical forage (98.6 g crude protein, CP/kg dry matter) for ad libitum intake. Four Nelore bulls (280 ± 10 kg bodyweight) fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were studied in a 4 × 4 Latin square. Treatments included: Control (no supplement) or 230 g/day of supplemental CP (as casein), with ratios of abomasal : ruminal infusion of 0 : 100, 50 : 50 or 100 : 0. Organic matter intake was not affected by treatments (P ≥ 0.30), though N intake increased by supplementation (P < 0.001). Total CP and organic matter digestibility were increased (P < 0.02) by protein supplementation. Nitrogen balance was 43% greater (P < 0.02) in the treatments with supplementation. Although supplementation did not affect (P = 0.98) the efficiency of absorbed N, a tendency towards a positive linear effect (P = 0.08) was observed when modifying the site of supplementation from the rumen to the abomasum. Supplementation increased (P < 0.01) ruminal ammonia-N, serum urea-N, urinary N and urea-N excretion, which subsequently decreased linearly (P < 0.01) by the displacement of supplementation from the rumen to the abomasum. The results indicate that protein supplementation, either in the rumen or abomasum produces similar effects on N retention. However, the metabolic mechanisms responsible for the improved N retention appear to differ between supplementation sites. Additionally, the efficiency of N utilisation increases with infusion of protein into the abomasum.

Additional keywords: Bos indicus, protein, ruminant metabolism, supplements, tropical pastures.


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