title: Energy utilization, nitrogen balance and microbial protein supply in cattle fed Pennisetum purpureum and condensed tannins.
abstract: The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of condensed tannins (CT) on feed intake, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen balance, supply of microbial protein to the small intestine and energy utilization in cattle fed a basal ration of Pennisetum purpureum grass. Five heifers (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) with an average live weight of 295 ± 19 kg were allotted to five treatments consisting of increasing levels of CT (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% CT/kg DM) in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Dry matter intake (DMI) was similar (p > 0.05) between treatments containing 0, 1, 2 and 3% of CT/kg DM and it was reduced (p < 0.05) to 4% CT (5.71 kg DM/day) with respect to that observed with 0% CT (6.65 kg DM/day). Nitrogen balance, purine derivatives excretion in urine, microbial protein synthesis and efficiency of synthesis of microbial nitrogen in the rumen were not affected (p ≥ 0.05) by the increase in the levels of condensed tannins in the ration. Energy loss as CH4was on average 2.7% of the gross energy consumed daily. Metabolizable energy intake was 49.06 MJ/day in cattle fed low-quality tropical grass with a DMI of 6.27 kg/day. It is concluded that concentrations of CT between 2 and 3% of DM of ration reduced energy loss as CH4by 31.3% and 47.6%, respectively, without affecting intakes of dry and organic matter; however, digestibilities of dry and organic matter are negatively affected.
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: A T
authors: AT
authors: Piñeiro-Vázquez
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Canul-Solis
authors: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Campeche, México.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Alayón-Gamboa
authors: División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco Villahermosa, Tabasco, México.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Chay-Canul
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Ayala-Burgos
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Solorio-Sánchez
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: C F
authors: CF
authors: Aguilar-Pérez
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Ku-Vera
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004063:Digestion; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D031782:Pennisetum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011687:Purines; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: condensed tannins; energy utilization; feed intake; methane; microbial protein