Evaluation of Internal Markers for Estimating Duodenal Digesta Flow in Ruminants: Acid Detergent Fibre and Lignin Disappearance at the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

Most of published studies carried out for estimating organic matter (OM) rumen digestibility (OMRD) use research an-imals fitted with simple t-type cannulas and an external or internal marker for estimating the duodenal digesta flow. Compared to external, the internal markers have the advan-tage of occurring naturally in diet and, consequently, they flow intimately associated with digesta (Titgemeyer 1997). Porter and Singleton (1971a) reported from a study with sheep fitted with re-entrant duodenal cannula that lignin degradation takes place entirely in the stomach. Thus, in digestibility studies where total faeces output is measured, duodenal digesta flow may be estimated based on both faeces output and the ratio of lignin concentration in faeces and in duodenal digesta. However, sulphuric acid lignin (ADL) is present in low concentrations in duodenal digesta and the precision of duodenal flow estimates is usually compromised. This study evaluated the disappearance at the lower gastrointestinal tract and, consequently, the po-tential use of acid detergent fibre (ADF), in comparison with ADL, as an internal marker for estimating duodenal digesta flow in cattle

Chitosan associated with whole raw soybeans in the dairy cows diets: I. Digestion, metabolism and productive performance; II. Evaluation of techniques for estimates the total-tract apparent digestibility and microbial protein synthesis

A presente tese foi elaborada em três capítulos, correspondente às seções 2, 3 e 4. No primeiro objetivou-se avaliar a associação de quitosana com grão de soja integral nas dietas sobre o consumo, fermentação ruminal, digestibilidade e metabolismo de nutrientes e seus efeitos sobre a produção de leite, perfil de ácidos graxos do leite e a eficiência produtiva de vacas em lactação. Para tal, 24 vacas multíparas da raça Holandesa, oito dessas com cânula ruminal, foram distribuídas em quadrados latinos 4×4 replicados. Os tratamentos foram obtidos por esquema fatorial 2×2 pela combinação de quitosana e grão de soja integral nas dietas. De modo geral, a associação de quitosana com grão de soja aumentou a eficiência de fermentação ruminal, reduziu as populações bacterianas ligadas à biohidrogenação e aumentou o teor de ácidos graxos insaturados na gordura do leite, mas houve significativa redução do consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes, da síntese de proteína microbiana e da produção de leite. No entanto, a adição de quitosana em dietas sem suplementação lipídica pode ser uma boa estratégia nutricional para aumentar a retenção de N e a eficiência alimentar de vacas em lactação, e adicionalmente, aumentar o teor de ácidos graxos insaturados e de cis-9, trans-11 CLA no leite. No segundo capítulo, o objetivo geral foi avaliar os indicadores externos Cr2O3 e TiO2 e os internos MSi, FDNi e FDAi, estes analisados em diferentes sacos de incubação in situ, a partir da acurácia, precisão e robustez das estimativas de excreção fecal em ensaio de digestão com vacas leiteiras consumindo diferentes dietas. Foram utilizadas oito vacas canuladas no rúmen para a realização de coletas totais de fezes com 24, 48 e 72 h de duração. De modo geral, o Cr2O3 gerou estimativas acuradas e precisas, no entanto a recuperação fecal e a robustez foram afetadas pelo consumo de extrato etéreo das vacas. O indicador TiO2 apresentou incompleta recuperação fecal, baixa acurácia, precisão e robustez. Dentre as combinações avaliadas para os indicadores internos, a FDNi em sacos de poliéster teve completa recuperação fecal e gerou as estimativas mais acuradas, precisas e robustas. A falta de acurácia e precisão dos indicadores têm grande impacto final sobre as estimativas de digestibilidade. No terceiro capítulo, o objetivo foi avaliar o uso da creatinina como indicador do volume urinário para estimativas de excreção total de derivados de purinas como técnica de avaliação da produção microbiana ruminal em vacas leiteiras alimentadas com diferentes dietas. Também foram utilizadas as oito vacas canuladas no rúmen para a realização de coletas totais de urina com 24, 48 e 72 h de duração. De modo geral, a creatinina foi afetada pelas condições experimentais do estudo, incluindo efeito de dieta e variações conforme o período experimental e animais. Apesar da relação entre excreção observada e estimada de derivados de purinas, essa deve ser vista com cautela, em razão de que o volume urinário foi subestimado e que as estimativas não identificaram corretas diferenças entre as dietas, comprometendo as avaliações sobre a produção microbiana ruminal.The present thesis was elaborated in three chapters, corresponding to sections 2, 3 and 4. In the first one, the aim was to evaluate the association of chitosan (C) and whole raw soybean (WRS) in diets, evaluating the intake, ruminal fermentation, digestibility and nutrient metabolism and its effects on milk production, milk fatty acids profile and the productive efficiency of lactating cows. Twenty four multiparous Holstein cows, eight of them fitted with ruminal cannula, were distributed in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares. The treatments were a combination of C and WRS diets arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design. This association increased the efficiency of ruminal fermentation, reducing the bacterial population responsible for the biohydrogenation and increased the unsaturated fatty acids in milk. The C and WRS diets caused a significant reduction in DMI and nutrient digestibility, in microbial protein synthesis and milk yield. However, the addition of C in diets without a lipid supplementation may be a good nutritional strategy to increase the N retention and increase the food efficiency of lactating cows, and, indeed, to increase the unsaturated fatty acids content, mainly cis-9, trans-11 CLA. In the second chapter, the objective was to evaluate the external indicators Cr2O3 and TiO2 and the indigestible internal DM, NDF and ADF that were determined in in situ different incubation bags from the accuracy, precision and robustness of the fecal excretion estimates in a digestion assay with different dairy cow diets. Eight cows fitted with ruminal cannula were used to perform total fecal collection over 24, 48 and 72 hours. The Cr2O3 generated accurate estimates, however, the fecal recovery and robustness were affected by the ether extract intake. The TiO2 indicator showed incomplete fecal recovery, low accuracy, precision and robustness. Among the combinations for the internal indicators, the iNDF in polyester bags had a complete recovery and generated the most accurate and robust estimates. The lack of accuracy and precision of the indicators have a big impact on the digestibility estimates. In the third chapter, the aim was to evaluate the use of creatinine as an indicator of urinary volume. It would be possible to estimate the total excretion of purine derivatives to evaluate the ruminal microbial protein synthesis in different cow diets. Also, eight multiparous cows fitted with ruminal cannula were used to make total urine collection over 24, 48 and 72 hours. The creatinine was affected by the study experimental conditions, including dietary effect and variations according to period and animals. The relationship between observed and estimated excretion of purine derivatives should be viewed with caution, because the urinary volume was underestimated and the estimates did not identify the correct differences between diets, that could compromise the evaluations of ruminal microbial production

Relationship between chemical components, bacterial adherence and in vitro fermentation of tropical forage legumes

Inclusion of forage legumes in diet may improve tropical ruminant systems productivity and sustainability. However, it is not well stablished which chemical components more impact their nutritional value. The relationship between chemical composition and in vitro fermentation of tropical forage legume was evaluated with the objective of obtaining indicators of their nutritional value. Samples of Crotalaria spectabilis, Cajanus cajan, Macrotyloma axillare, Mucuna aterrina, Stylosantis sp. and Canavalia ensiformis, cut from plants at growth age between 47 to 110 days, were analysed. Total gas production showed negative correlation (P<0.05) with total N (R=-0.51), acid detergent fibre (ADF, R=-0.62) and acid detergent lignin (ADL, R=-0.65), and positive correlation with non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC, R=0.70). Gas production rate was negatively related (P<0.05) to NDF (R=-0.73), ADF (R=-0.62) and ADL (R=-0.74). Ammonia concentration in the incubation medium was positively related (P<0.05) to total (R=0.74) and soluble (R=0.56) N, and negatively related to NFC (R=-0.81). The level of bacterial adhesion on residue of incubation was negatively related (P<0.05) to cell wall components, mainly to ADL (R=-0.57). The inclusion of polyehtylene glycol increased both gas volume and gas production rate whereas decreased ammonia concentration (P<0.05). In conclusion, even at low concentrations tannins impact the in vitro fermentation of tropical legumes. However, among the analyzed chemical components, the ADL was the best indicator of the nutritional value of the tropical forage legumes

Effect of organic sources of minerals on fat-corrected milk yield of dairy cows in confinement

This study evaluated the effects of organic and inorganic sources of minerals in diets for mid-lactation dairy cows on milk yield and composition, intake and total apparent digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, blood parameters, microbial protein synthesis, and energy and protein balances. Twenty Holstein cows averaging 146.83 +/- 67.34 days in milk and weighing 625.30 +/- 80.37 kg were used. The experimental design was a crossover. Diets were composed of corn silage (50%), ground grain corn, and soybean meal, differing with regard to the sources of trace minerals, plus an organic and inorganic mix. The organic mineral source increased milk fat and fat-corrected milk yield without changing milk yield, intake, or total apparent digestibility. Blood parameters, microbial protein synthesis, and energy and protein balances were not affected by the sources of minerals. Organic sources of minerals improve milk fat yield without affecting other parameters