Rumen fermentation and starch degradation by Holstein steers fed sodium-hydroxide- or formaldehyde-treated wheat.
The authors investigated the effect of feeding 2% sodium-hydroxide-treated (as-fed basis) or 2% formaldehyde-treated (crude protein basis) wheat to rumen-, duodenal- and ileocaecal-cannulated Holstein steers on rumen fermentation and ruminal and postruminal starch degradation. Feeding 2 kg/day wheat treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or formaldehyde did not affect negatively the main parameters of rumen fermentation, i.e. pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and microbial activity. Fibre degradation in the rumen was significantly improved when NaOH-treated wheat was fed. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that feeding NaOH- and formaldehyde-treated wheat to steers significantly increased the amount of starch that reached the small intestine. The amount of starch that entered the duodenum increased by 57% and 75% when steers were fed NaOH- and formaldehyde-treated wheat compared to the control phase, respectively. This higher quantity of starch was digested and absorbed, which can provide an increased glucose supply to the animals.
Schmidt
J
J
Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of West Hungary, H-9200 Mosonmagyaróvár, Vár 2, Hungary.
Tóth
T
T
Fábián
J
J
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*; D014908:Triticum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D005557:Formaldehyde; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D013213:Starch