Effect of supplementing steers with graded levels of concentrate on rumen environment and degradation kinetics of Chloris gayana hay
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Date
2016
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RUFORUM
Abstract
In order to improve utilization of low nutrient and high fibrous pastures, which are common
in the tropics, supplementation with concentrates having readily available nutrients is
recommended to improve livestock productivity. Chloris gayana is one of the predominant
grasses in the cattle corridor of Uganda. However, its low nutritional content constrains
animal production by causing unfavorable rumen environment for microbes for forage
degradation. This study investigated the rumen environment and degradation kinetics of
Chloris gayana hay fed as basal at maintenance levels to steers supplemented with graded
levels of concentrate. Four Holstein-Friesian castrated steers weighing between 400 – 800
kg live body weights were used in the determination of in sacco degradability. The basal
diet composed of Chloris gayana hay was supplemented with graded levels of concentrate
at ratios of 10%, 20% and 30% to form the three treatments. In the control treatment, steers
were fed a diet of 100% hay. Chloris gayana hay was placed in nylon bags and incubated
in the rumen of four fistulated steers for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hour. The data
were analyzed using SAS (1998). The crude protein (CP), Metabolisable energy (ME) and
acid detergent lignin (ADL) of formulated rations significantly increased (<0.0001) with an
increase in concentrate inclusion from 4.8 to 7.5%, 5.8 to 6.6MJ/KgDM and 6.8 to 7.9%,
respectively. The acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter
(DM) of the rations significantly decreased (P<0.0001) with an increase in the level of
concentrate supplementation from 35.6 to 28.4%, 64.1 to 49.5%, and 92.8 to 92.1%,
respectively. The highest effective dry matter degradability (33.86%) and organic matter
degradability (33.9%) was observed at 20% inclusion level of concentrate into hay. Similar
trends were observed for dry matter degradability at 48 hour (42.2%). The highest ME
(5.8MJKg DM) of hay was obtained at 20% inclusion level of the concentrate into hay. The
lowest ME (5.1MJKg DM) and DMD48h (37.4%) of hay were recorded at 0% concentrate
supplementation. Subsequently, rumen pH (6.7) collected preprandial at 6:00h was closer to
neutrality compared to the more acidic conditions of the rumen environment for the 0, 10,
and 30% level of concentrate inclusion. Similarly, the highest level of ammonia concentration
(89.3 (mg/L) was attained at 20% concentrate inclusion level. Supplementation of Chloris gayana hay based diet with concentrate up to 20% inclusion level not only improved rumen
environment but also rumen degradability and ME extracted from the hay.
Description
Keywords
Chloris gayana, Rumen degradability, Uganda
Citation
Semwogerere, F., Kigozi, A., Kabi, F., Kasenge, R. K., Levi, C., Kyazze, B. F., ... & Nakabonge, G. (2016). Effect of supplementing steers with graded levels of concentrate on rumen environment and degradation kinetics of Chloris gayana hay. In Fifth African Higher Education Week and RUFORUM Biennial Conference 2016," Linking agricultural universities with civil society, the private sector, governments and other stakeholders in support of agricultural development in Africa", Cape Town, South Africa, 17-21 October 2016 (pp. 237-245). RUFORUM.