Dry matter, intake, passage liquid rate, liquid rumnal volume, ammonia nitrogen ruminal concentration and rumnal PH in dairy cattle supplemented with tallow

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of different dietary tallow levels (0. 3 and 6 %) on dry matter intake, liquid rate ruminal passage , liquid ruminal volume, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen ruminal concentration , in dairy cattle. The diet contained 60 % of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay and 40 % of concentrate. Six Holstein cows averaging 480 kg of initial body weight and fitted with ruminal cannulas were randomly assigned at two 3 x 3 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 28 days with 21 days for diet adaptation and 7 days for sample collection. The dry matter intake evaluated and “in situ” degradability assay was runned from day 21st to the 27th and the 28th day were made of collections ruminal liquid. Ruminal fluid was collected before (0 h) and at 1; 2; 3; 4; 6 and 8h after feeding for determination of both ruminal pH and ammonia-N. Rate of ruminal liquid passage and volume were determined using PEG 4.000. Ruminal pH, ammonia-N concentration and of rate liquid passage did not differ significantly across diets. Similarly, dry matter intake was not affected by different dietary tallow levels while the gain weight, expressed in g/day, was higher when the tallow level was 3 % in the diet. With 6 % of the tallow in the diet decreased NDF degradabilities of the hay. The results suggest that the tallow can be utilized at 3% as additive in diet for ruminants with feeding to gradual for improved acceptance and not affect the voluntary intake.