Sheep fed with banana leaf hay reduce ruminal protozoa population.
A ciliate protozoa suppression can reduce methane production increasing the energy efficiency utilization by ruminants. The physicochemical characteristics of rumen fluid and the profile of the rumen protozoa populations were evaluated for sheep fed banana leaf hay in replacement of the Cynodon dactylon cv. vaqueiro hay. A total of 30 male sheep were raised in intensive system during 15 days of adaptation and 63 days of experimental period. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design that included six replicates of five treatments with replacement levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of the grass vaquero for the banana leaf hay. Samples of fluid were collected directly from the rumen with sterile catheters. Color, odor, viscosity, and the methylene blue reduction potential (MBRP) were evaluated and pH estimated using a digital potentiometer. After decimal dilutions, counts of genus protozoa were performed in Sedgewick Rafter chambers. The averages of pH, MBRP, color, odor, and viscosity were not influenced by the inclusion of the banana leaf hay. However, the total number of protozoa and Entodinium spp. population significantly decreased at 75 and 100% inclusions of banana leaf hay as roughage.
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Reinaldo Viana Street, 2630, Bico da Pedra Neighbourhood, Janaúba, MG, 39440-000, Brazil.
Cláudio Eduardo Silva
CE
Freitas
Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Montes Claros, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Universitária Av., 1000, Universitário Neighbourhood, Montes Claros, MG, 39400-006, Brazil. duartevet@hotmail.com.|Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Montes Claros, MG, 39404-547, Brazil. duartevet@hotmail.com.
Eduardo Robson
ER
Duarte
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Reinaldo Viana Street, 2630, Bico da Pedra Neighbourhood, Janaúba, MG, 39440-000, Brazil.
Dorismar David
DD
Alves
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900, Brazil.
Isabel
I
Martinele
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900, Brazil.
Marta
M
D'Agosto
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900, Brazil.
Franciane
F
Cedrola
Industrial Biotechnology Program, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, MG, 39401-089, Brazil.
Angélica Alves
AA
de Moura Freitas
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Reinaldo Viana Street, 2630, Bico da Pedra Neighbourhood, Janaúba, MG, 39440-000, Brazil.
Franklin Delano
FD
Dos Santos Soares
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.
Makenzi
M
Beltran
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005285:Fermentation; D008297:Male; D028521:Musa; D018515:Plant Leaves; D006109:Poaceae; D011897:Random Allocation; D012417:Rumen / Q000469:parasitology*; D012756:Sheep; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*
Ciliates; Confinement; Musa sp.; Ruminal microbiota; Sheep breeding