Rumen Fermentation Pattern in Indigenous Cattle Fed Rice Straw-Based Diet with Varying. Levels of Rumen Degradable Protein (Rdp) from Urea

Four adult male cattle fitted with rumen cannulae were used to evaluate the effect of varying levels of rumen degradable protein (RDF) from urea on rumen fermentation pattern of indigenous cattle using 4X4 Latin Square Design. Animals were fed four diets containing RDP levels of 50, 75, 100 and 150% in diets U0, Ul, U2 and U3, respectively. The supplemental levels of RDP in the diets were maintained from urea. The pH of rumen liquor in diet U3 was significantly (P<0.01) higher as compare to other diets (U0, U1 and U2). The rumen ammonia-N concentrations and NFN were significantly (P<0.01) lower on, diet U0 than on diets U2 and U3 and comparable with Ul. The total-N and TCA ppt-N content of rumen liquor were significantly (P<0.01) higher on diet U3 than other diets. TYFA concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher on diet U2 than other diets (U0, U1 and U3). The rumen ammoniu-N concentration peaked at 1 h post-feeding while TVFA concentration at 5 h post-feeding. The results thus indicated that straw based diet containing 100% RDP was superior than others RDP levels when urea was used as RDP supplement.