Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of different forages using nylon (50 µm), F57 (Ankom®) and non-woven textile (NWT - 100 g/m2) bags. Eight forage samples were used: sugarcane, corn silage, elephant grass cut at 50 and 250 days of regrowth, corn straw, signal grass hay, coast cross hay, and fresh alfalfa. Samples were incubated for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, and 312 hours. Two bags of each textile were used at each incubation time, totaling 768 bags, using two crossbred Holstein × Zebu steers fitted with ruminal canullae. There was difference in the common rate of lag and degradation (λ) of DM for all forages, except for sugarcane. In general, higher λ estimates were obtained using nylon, followed by NWT and F57. Concerning NDF degradation profiles, differences in λ were observed for all forages. Greater estimates were obtained using nylon. Degradation profiles of DM and NDF must not be evaluated using F57 and NWT. These textiles underestimate the degradation rate due to constraints regarding exchange between bags' content and rumen environment.
Highlights
The evaluation of digestion parameters in ruminant animals is assumed to be more accurate when in vivo methods are employed
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of different forages using nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom®) and non-woven textile (NWT – 100 g/m2) bags
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of different forages using bags made of nylon (50 μm), F57 (Ankom®) and non-woven textile (NWT – 100 g/m2)
Summary
The evaluation of digestion parameters in ruminant animals is assumed to be more accurate when in vivo methods are employed. Several constraints, such as animal welfare and experimental costs, have been highlighted, and the interest in in situ or in vitro evaluations has increased (Broderick & Cochran, 2000). Among those techniques, the in situ evaluations have been more recommended (Marinucci et al, 1992; Vanzant et al, 1998), noticeably because the measurements are performed in the rumen, where the degradation process is supposed to be more reliable than in vitro (Varel & Kreikemeier, 1995). There is an imminent demand for results regarding consistency, accuracy and precision of estimates and for aspects concerning analytical costs and operational facilities of the different textiles (Casali et al, 2009)
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