Nutrient digestibility and growth of five breeds of sheep under different levels of undegradable protein

Yulistiani D,Kardaya D,Naufaliah N,Subandriyo Yo

doi:10.14334/jitv.v20i1.1112

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of rumen undegradable protein (UDP) in concentrate on performance of five breeds of sheep. Namely: Compass Agrinak (CA); Garut Composite breed (KG); Barbados Cross breed (BC); St Croix breed (SC); and Local Garut (GL) breed. Ten heads of sheep were used from each breed, in which each breed was grouped into 5 groups according to their body weight, and each sheep in each group was assigned to one of two treatments diet. The diet treatment consisted of concentrate containing different levels of undegradable protein (UDP). The levels of undegradable protein were 4.5% and 7.5%. Concentrate were formulated in iso nitrogen (CP content 16.7%) and iso energy (ME content 2.5 Mcal/kg). During feeding trial the sheep were kept in individual pen for three months. Study was conducted in randomized complete block design in factorial 5 x 2 arrangement, 5 levels of breeds sheep and 2 levels of UDP content. Results shows that there was no interaction effect of breed and levels UDP on feed consumption, average daily gain and feed conversion. These variables were significantly (P 0.05) by interaction between breed of sheep and UDP levels in the diet except for OM digestibility. While breed of sheep did not affect nutrient digestibility and UDP levels only affected NDF digestibility. From this study, it is concluded that increasing UDP in the diet did not improve growth performance of sheep. At similar quality of feed the growth performance was affected by breed of sheep in which KG and GL sheep had similar average daily gain (86.01 vs 82.38 g/day).

Highlights

Protein forms are the most important components in ruminants’ ration, it is crucial to ensure that this nutrients could be utilize efficiently
Protein requirement of ruminants can be supplied from microbial protein synthesis and dietary protein that escapes from microbial degradation in the rumen and reaches the small intestine for digestion and absorption
DMI of Komposit Garut (KG) was significantly higher than other breeds but was not significantly different to Belly Cross (BC), while the lowest DMI was in Garut local (GL)

Summary

Introduction

Protein forms are the most important components in ruminants’ ration, it is crucial to ensure that this nutrients could be utilize efficiently. Protein requirement of ruminants can be supplied from microbial protein synthesis and dietary protein that escapes from microbial degradation in the rumen (rumen undegradable protein/UDP) and reaches the small intestine for digestion and absorption. For high production state of ruminants such as at growing and lactating their protein requirement can not be met only from microbial protein synthesis. Providing ration to animals containing UDP will provide addition protein to microbial protein for tissue deposition as well nitrogen source for endogenous recycling (Atkinson et al 2007). Supplying protein in diet containing balanced between rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (UDP) should be considered (Garg 1998). McDonald et al (2002) suggested that for maintenance and growth of sheep, the RDP requirement was about 60% of total protein in the diet Supplying protein in diet containing balanced between rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (UDP) should be considered (Garg 1998). McDonald et al (2002) suggested that for maintenance and growth of sheep, the RDP requirement was about 60% of total protein in the diet

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Conclusion