Ruminal parameters of bovines fed diets based on sugar cane with doses of calcium hydroxide

Alexandre Menezes Dias,Ériklis Nogueira,Geraldo Tadeu Dos Santos,Julio Cesar Damasceno,Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo,Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira Ítavo

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982012000400019

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the administration of different doses of calcium hydroxide mixed with sugar cane fed to cows by the pH, ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids concentration in ruminal content. Four cows with fistulated rumen were distributed in a Latin square (4 × 4) in split plot. The treatments involved adding doses of 0, 8, 16 and 24 g/kg of calcium hydroxide to sugar cane in natura. Samples of rumen fluid were collected and the pH and concentration of N-NH3 was determined before (time zero) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 hours after the feeding time. The concentration of volatile fatty acids at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours was also determined. The calcium hydroxide contributed to maintain the pH of rumen fluid close to neutral. The average concentrations of N-NH3 in the ruminal fluid was 20.59, 20.49, 17.28 and 18.22 mg/100 mL for samples with calcium hydroxide at 0, 8, 16, 24 g/kg, respectively. There was an effect of the addition of calcium hydroxide on the volatile fatty acids concentration from before feeding until 12 hours after feeding time. There was an effect on doses tested for the concentration of volatile fatty acids. The calcium hydroxide added to the sugar cane influences on ruminal parameters. The dose of approximately 10 g of calcium hydroxide per kg sugar cane in natura is recommended.

Highlights

Sugar cane in natura presents high lignocellulose content, so the feasibility of its use requires the development of treatment methods that promote the breakdown of the structure of the fiber fraction to make it more digestible, favoring better performance
The ruminal N-NH3 concentration is a consequence of the balance between production, absorption and utilization by microorganisms (Silveira et al, 2009)
The highest values of ruminal pH were found in treatments with higher doses of calcium hydroxide (16 and 24 g/kg), due to the alkalinizing power of calcium hydroxide used for the alkaline hydrolysis of sugar cane (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

Sugar cane in natura presents high lignocellulose content, so the feasibility of its use requires the development of treatment methods that promote the breakdown of the structure of the fiber fraction to make it more digestible, favoring better performance. Ítavo & Ítavo (2005) suggested that ruminal parameters can directly influence the performance of animals; this way, knowing of these events and seeking to improve these parameters are necessary to achieve maximum animal performance. Alkalizing agents such as calcium oxide (CaO) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) can be used for this purpose, since they promote the alkaline hydrolysis of the cell wall and improve the digestibility. The ruminal N-NH3 concentration is a consequence of the balance between production, absorption and utilization by microorganisms (Silveira et al, 2009).

Objectives

Methods

Results