Abstract

ARIAS, C et al. SUPPLEMENTATION INFLUENCE ON COCONUT KERNEL EXPELLER´S (Acrocomia aculeata) RUMINAL DEGRADABILITY, AND RUMEN FERMENTATION CHARACTERISTICS IN SHEEP. Compend. cienc. vet [online]. 2014, vol.4, n.2, pp.07-13. ISSN 2226-1761.

ABSTRACT. The research objectives were to evaluate coconut kernel expeller's dry matter and gross protein ruminal in situ degradability and determine pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration in rumen fluid, from sheep fed with Brachiaria brizantha hay and supplemented or not with wheatgrass (3/4) and sunflower expeller (1/4) mixture. For the study, 4 sheep, 38 kg average weight, with cannulated rumen were confined in floor cages; assigned in two treatments: with supplementation (T1) and without supplementation (T2). Rations were offered 2 times per day, at 07:30 am and 05:30 pm, supplement amount corresponded to 1% body weight on a dry basis. To determine dry matter and gross protein ruminal in situ degradability, coconut kernel expeller were incubated in each cannula, 2 nylon bags per hour, sampling at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hours. As results was observed that supplementation significantly affected ruminal degradation of rapidly degradable fractions "a" (p=0.0158), potentially degradable fraction "b" (p=0.0499), degradation rate b fraction called "c" (p=0.025) and dry matter degradation start time (p=0.0037), however, gross protein ruminal degradability parameters were not affected by supplementation. Overall mean pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration were significantly influenced (p<0.001) by supplementation, decreasing pH values and increasing ammonia nitrogen.<0.001) by supplementation, decreasing pH values and increasing ammonia nitrogen.

Keywords : ruminal degradation; coconut kernel expeller; supplementation; sheep.

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