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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183983

Title: RUMINAL PROTEIN METABOLITES AND FIBER FERMENTATION DIFFER AMONG NONFIBER CARBOHYDRATE AND PROTEIN SOURCES

Author
item Hall, Mary Beth
item LARSON, COLLEEN - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/30/2004
Citation: Hall, M. B., Larson, C. C. 2004. Ruminal protein metabolites and fiber fermentation differ among nonfiber carbohydrate and protein sources [short paper]. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences. 13 (Suppl. 1):83-86.

Interpretive Summary: Although dietary nonfiber carbohydrates, such as sugars, starch, and pectin, have been considered to be equivalent in the energy they provide to cattle, they differ in their effects on digestion of fiber and possibly digestion and utilization of protein. These effects change depending upon the protein source fed. Understanding the effects of dietary carbohydrates and their interactions with protein will be important to formulating diets to best meet the nutrient requirements of cattle to enhance production and efficiency.

Technical Abstract: Effects of nonfiber carbohydrate source (NFC) and protein degradability (RDP) in vivo on concentrations of NH3, amino acids, and branch chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) in ruminal fluid, and on in situ disappearance of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were evaluated. Treatment differences noted in BCVFA and amino acid concentrations suggest that ruminal protein digestion or use differs by NFC source. NFC source and the interaction of NFC x RDP affected in situ NDF disappearance; the effects did not appear to purely pH related. In situ NDF disappearance provided relative, not absolute, evaluation of NDF digestibility.