Abstract
Two rumen-fistulated wethers were utilized to study rumen fluid characteristics of wethers fed supplements containing liquefied fish (LF), cottonseed meal (CSM) or hydrolyzed feather meal (FM). These supplements provided 50% of the total dietary crude protein (CP) in each treatment. Supplements were fed twice daily along with grass hay. Each treatment consisted of a 12-day adjustment period and a 3-day collection period; rumen fluid samples were taken every hour for 4h after feeding. Treatment means were different (P < 0.05) in rumen pH, acetic:propionic acid ratio (A/P) and molar percentage of acetic (Ac), propionic (Pro), isobutyric (IB) and valeric (V) acids. Rumen pH was generally lower in the latter part of the 4-h collection period. The feeding of LF resulted in increased rumen fluid ammonia-N (NH3-N; P < 0.01) compared with CSM and FM treatments. In vitro digestibility trials were conducted in which varying levels of LF were substituted for urea-N in a liquid supplement (LS). Trials were conducted to determine the optimum level for inclusion of LF in LS based on in vitro digestibility of grass hay and cellulose (Solka floc). Treatments were formulated to contain 14% CP (dry basis) with LF added to replace 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15% of urea-N in LS. Cottonseed meal and FM were used as controls. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) was increased (P < 0.01) by increasing LF levels. The NH3-N (P < 0.01) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration (P < 0.05) were higher in the supernatant for LF-treated samples than for the FM treatment. When Solka floe was used as the substrate, there were no differences (P > 0.05) among levels of LF treatments for the various supernatant characteristics, but LF treatments increased (P < 0.05) IVDMD, NH3-N, A/P and molar percentage of Ac, Pro, and IB aids compared with the controls. Key words: Sheep, liquefied fish, liquid supplements, ammonia-nitrogen, forage digestion
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