title: In vitro gas production in rumen fluid of buffalo as affected by urea-calcium mixture in high-quality feed block.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the effect of urea-calcium sulphate mixture (U-cas) levels in high-quality feed block (HQFB) on ruminal digestibility, fermentation and gas kinetics in rumen fluid of swamp buffalo by using in vitro techniques. The treatments were seven levels of U-cas incorporated in HQFB at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18% and the experimental design was a completely randomized design. Gas production rate constants for the insoluble fraction, potential extent of gas and cumulative gas were linearly increased with increasing levels of U-cas in HQFB. The in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro organic matter digestibility, true digestibility and microbial mass were altered by treatments and were greatest at 18% U-cas supplementation. Concentrations of propionate were linearly increased with increasing levels of U-cas and was highest with U-cas supplementation at 18%. The NH3 -N concentration was highest when urea was added in the HQFB while NH3 -N concentration tended to be reduced with increasing level of U-cas. The findings suggest supplementation of 18% U-cas in HQFB improves kinetics of gas production, rumen fermentation, digestibility and microbial mass as well as controlling the rate of N degradation in the rumen of swamp buffalo.
authors: Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors: Anusorn
authors: A
authors: Cherdthong
authors: Metha
authors: M
authors: Wanapat
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000502:physiology*; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D011422:Propionates; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen; D002133:Calcium Sulfate
keywords: feed block; in vitro gas production technique; ruminant; slow-release urea