title: Effect of treating sugarcane bagasse with urea and calcium hydroxide on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation in beef cattle.
abstract: Four beef cattle with initial body weight of 283 ± 14 kg were randomly allocated according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study on the effect of feeding sugarcane bagasse (SB) treated with urea and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The treatments were as follows: rice straw (RS), untreated SB (SB), 4 % urea-treated SB (SBU), and 2 % urea + 2 % Ca(OH)2-treated SB (SBUC), respectively. The results revealed that cattle fed with SBU and SBUC had higher feed intake and apparent digestibility. Ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were increased in cattle fed with SB as roughage source (P < 0.05). Feeding SBU and SBUC to cattle resulted in higher propionic acid and lower acetic acid, acetic to propionic ratio, and methane production (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of fungi was increased in SBU- and SBUC-fed groups while protozoa population was unchanged. This study concluded that the nutritive value of SB was improved by urea and/or Ca(OH)2 treatment, and feeding treated SB could increase feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. This study suggested that SB treated with 2 % urea + 2 % Ca(OH)2 could be used as an alternative roughage source for ruminant feeding.
authors.affiliation: Program in Animal Production Technology, Faculty of Technology, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani, 41000, Thailand. nirawan_kku@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nirawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunun
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Metha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wanapat
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology-Isan, Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, 47160, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pongsatorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunun
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Anusorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherdthong
authors.affiliation: Agro-Bioresources, Faculty of Natural Resources and AgroIndustry, Kasetsart University, Chalermphakiat Sakon Nakhon Campus, Sakon Nakhon, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pichad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khejornsart
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Unit, Department of Education, National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Sungchhang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002482:Cellulose; D005285:Fermentation; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000592:standards; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D031786:Saccharum; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014508:Urea; D002482:Cellulose; C027433:bagasse; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide
keywords: Calcium hydroxide; Digestibility; Rumen fermentation; Sugarcane bagasse; Urea