Studies on the utilization of rice straw by sheep III. Effect of soybean meal and barley supplementation on voluntary intake, digestibility and ruminal fermentation |
L. Warly, A. Fariani, O. P. Mawuenyegah, T. Matsui, T Fujihara, T. Harumoto |
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Abstract |
The effect of soybean meal and barley supplementation of the utilization of rice straw was investigated. Balance trials were conducted with three Japanese Corriedale wethers fed rice straw supplemented with soybean meal and barley at three different levels of protein: low (40 g CP/d, LCP), medium (67 g/d, MCP) and high (94 g/d, HCP). In addition, all the supplements were formulated to contain the same amount of TDN (275 g/d). Voluntary intake of rice straw was not affected by any supplementation, while digestibility of organic matter in sheep given HCO diet was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those on LCP diet. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibilities of MCP and HCP diets were significantly improved (p<0.05) over the LCP diet. Average daily gain of the animals under MCP and HCP diets were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those under LCP diet. Differences of rumen pH among the treatments were not significant, while concentration of rumen NH3-N was significantly higher (p<0.05) for HCP diet than for LCP and MCP diets. Total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05) in sheep fed MCP and HCP diets than those fed LCP diet, while plasma total protein concentration was not affected by any supplementation. Sheep fed MCP diet had a higher nitrogen retention than those fed LCP and HCP diets. It was concluded that rice straw was utilized better by sheep when SBM and barley were supplemented at the medium level of protein. |
Keywords:
Rice Straw; Soybean Meal; Barley; Digestibility; Rumen Fermentation; Sheep |
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