Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter Rowlinson
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Four rumen-fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 4×4 Latin square design to investigate effects of supplementation levels of sodium d1-malate in concentrates on rumen ecology, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance, feed intake and digestibility of nutrients and ruminal microbial protein synthesis. The dietary treatments were cassava concentrate-based, containing sodium d1-malate supplementation at 0, 9, 18 and 27 g/hd/d with urea-treated rice straw (UTS) fed ad libitum. The experiment was conducted for four periods, each period lasting 21 days. Ruminal pH increased with incremental addition of malate (p<0.05). Additionally, molar proportions of propionate were higher in supplemented groups and was highest at 18 g/hd/d of malate supplement (p<0.05). Microbial protein synthesis tended to be higher in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplements and also was the highest at 18 g/hd/d. Variable bacterial populations, such as amylolytic, proteolytic and cellulolytic species were increased (p<0.05). Furthermore, protozoal populations were decreased significantly (p<0.05), while fungal zoospores were dramatically increased in dairy steers receiving sodium dl-malate supplement (p<0.05). These results suggested that supplementation of concentrate containing a high level of cassava chip at 18 g/hd/d with UTS in dairy steers could improve rumen fermentation efficiency and rumen microbial protein synthesis.
Author(s): Khampa S, Wanapat M, Wachirapakorn C, Nontaso N, Wattiaux MA, Rowlison P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
Year: 2006
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Pages: 368-375
ISSN (print): 1011-2367
ISSN (electronic):
Publisher: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
