Aziz, H. (2014). EFFECT OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON DIGESTIBILITY IN SMALL RUMINANTS. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 5(12), 673-696. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2014.70767
Hend A. Aziz. "EFFECT OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON DIGESTIBILITY IN SMALL RUMINANTS". Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 5, 12, 2014, 673-696. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2014.70767
Aziz, H. (2014). 'EFFECT OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON DIGESTIBILITY IN SMALL RUMINANTS', Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 5(12), pp. 673-696. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2014.70767
Aziz, H. EFFECT OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON DIGESTIBILITY IN SMALL RUMINANTS. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 2014; 5(12): 673-696. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2014.70767
EFFECT OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON DIGESTIBILITY IN SMALL RUMINANTS
Animal Nutrition Department, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
Three experimental rations differed in concentrate: roughage ratios {90:10 (R1), 80:20 (R2) or 70:30% (R3)} were designed to study chemical compositions and cell wall constituents analysis by in vitro at different incubation times, in vitro nutrient disappearance, in vitro fermentations, microbial protein, count and classification of ciliated protozoa, total and cellulolytic bacteria number. Also, utilization of energy and rumen protozoa in male sheep fed the experimental rations. Samples of rations were in vitro incubated with ruminal fluid from sheep fed concentrate feed mixture and good quality berseem hay for 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 h. the results indicated that R1 had the highest (P<0.05) DM, OM and CP contents, while R3 had the lowest (P<0.05) contents. Also, R3 had the highest (P>0.01) CF content and cell wall constituents, whereas, R1 showed the lowest (P>0.01) CF content and it’s components. All contents and cell wall constituents showed gradual decrease (P<0.05) by progressed incubation time. Also, the obtained results revealed that R3 had the highest (P>0.05) nutrient disappearance, followed by R2 then R1. The best cell wall content disappearance also was for R3. All values of nutrients disappearance showed gradual increase (P<0.05) by progressed incubation time. In vitro fermentations, microbial protein and ruminal protozoa showed the highest values for R3. While, R2 had the best utilization of energy. It can be concluded that rations containing high roughage ratio enhanced nutrient degradability, In vitro fermentations, microbial protein and increased ruminal protozoa.