2 research outputs found
MICROBIAL PROTEIN PRODUCTION IN THE RUMEN OF STEERS FED LOW QUALITY FORAGE SUPPLEMENTED WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF BARLEY GRAIN OR BARLEY GRAIN PLUS PROTEIN
ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of increasing intake of barley grain or
barley grain plus protein as supplement on microbial crude protein (MCP) production, efficiency of
microbial crude protein production (eMCP) in the rumen of Brahman steers consuming low quality forage.
Ten steers were used and allocated to two supplement groups namely barley grain (B) and barley plus
protein (BP). The experimental design was two incomplete 5x5 Latin Squares, each with three runs. Each
run consisted of a 21 d adaptation and 7 d collection period. Steers received Green panic hay ad libitum
with one of five levels of B or BP (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0% of body weight per day (W/d)). MCP production
in the rumen increased linearly (P<0.05) with increasing intake of B or BP supplements. The MCP in the
rumen increased linearly (P<0.05) and quadratically (P<0.05) by increased B and BP intakes, respectively.
Generally, steers supplemened with BP had greater (P<0.01) MCP production and eMCP in the rumen than
B supplemented steers. The concentration of rumen NH3-N (samples taken at 3 h after feeding) increased
linearly with increased B or BP intakes. For samples taken at 24 h post feeding, the concentration of rumen
NH3-N was not changed (P>0.05) with increased B intake but increased linearly (P<0.01) with increased BP
intake. Ruminal pH at 3 h after feeding decreased linearly (P<0.05) due to increased B intake, but was not
altered (P>0.05) by increased BP intake. For samples taken at 24 h post feeding in contrast, was not
influenced (P>0.05) by intake of B or BP. It was concluded that although both supplements increased
MCP production and eMCP in the rumen of steers receiving low quality forage, BP supplementation had
much more beneficial effect than B supplementation.
Keywords: barley, protein, rumen, steer, forag