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Research Journal of Applied Sciences

Effect of Concentrate Mixed with Extrusion-processed Mixture of Cassava Pulp and Urea (EMCPU) and Varying Levels of Ruminal Undegradable Protein on Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation and Nitrogen Balance of Beef Cattle
Pramote Paengkoum, K. Bunnakit and O. Pimpa

Abstract: This experiment aimed to study the effects concentrate mixed with Extrusion-processed Mixture of Cassava Pulp and Urea (EMCPU) and varying levels of Ruminal Undegradable Protein (RUP) on productive performance of crossbred (Thai Native x Brahman) beef cattle. Four cattle with an average bodyweight of 175.5±18.6 kg) were used in a 4x4 Latin square arrangement of treatments with 21 days periods. The treatments were the concentrate mixed with EMCPU and varying levels of RUP at 30, 35, 40 and 45% (T1, T2, T3 and T4). Animal were fed at 2.0% BW of concentrate mixed and all animals were fed ad libitum with urea treated rice straw as roughage. The results showed that dry matter intake increased linearly (p<0.01) as the level of RUP increased. Moreover, organic matter digestibility increased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing the level of RUP. Ruminal ammonia-N concentration was highest in 30% RUP. In addition, linearly decrease in ruminal ammonia-N (p<0.01) reflected increases in level of RUP however, at 45% RUP, NH3-N was increased quadratically (p<0.01). Total volatile fatty acid (94.3, 113.25, 116.7, 112.1 mM L-1; p<0.01) increased linearly (p<0.01) as the level of RUP increased. However, at 45% RUP, TVFAs decreased quadratically (p<0.01). Increase in bacteria and protozoa populations reflected increased in level of RUP from 30-40%. However, bacteria and protozoa populations were decreased (quadratically, p<0.05) as the level of RUP increased from 40-45%. Nitrogen absorption was not significantly different among dietary treatments. Nitrogen retention (20.9, 19.7, 31.0, 21.5 g day-1; p<0.05) was highest in 40% RUP and tended to increase as level of RUP increased however, at N retention at 45% RUP tended to decrease (quadratically, p = 0.1). These results indicated that 35% CP from EMCPU replacement for RUP levels at 40% in concentrate have positive effects on crossbred Native x Brahman beef cattle production.

How to cite this article
Pramote Paengkoum, K. Bunnakit and O. Pimpa, 2010. Effect of Concentrate Mixed with Extrusion-processed Mixture of Cassava Pulp and Urea (EMCPU) and Varying Levels of Ruminal Undegradable Protein on Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation and Nitrogen Balance of Beef Cattle. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 5: 267-273.

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