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Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Sodium Salt of Isobutyric Acid on Ruminal Fermentation and Nutrient Utilization in a Wheat Straw Based Low Protein Diet Fed to Crossbred Cattle |
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A. K. Misra, S. S. Thakur |
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| Abstract |
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The effect of dietary supplementation of sodium salt of isobutyric acid in low protein (10% CP) wheat straw based diet on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation was studied in ruminally fistulated male crossbred cattle. The study included a 7 day metabolism and a 3 day rumen fermentation trials. The cattle were distributed into two equal groups of 4 each. The animals of control group were fed a basal diet consisting of wheat straw, concentrate mixture and green maize fodder in 40:40:20 proportion whereas branched chain volatile fatty acid (BCFA) supplemented group received a basal diet + isobutyric acid at 0.75 percent of basal diet. The duration of study was 36 days. The feed intake between experimental groups did not differ significantly and the average total DMI (% BW) was 2.01 and 2.28 kg day-1 in control and BCFA supplemented diets. The dietary supplementation of BCFA improved (p<0.05) the DM, OM, NDF and cellulose digestibility by 4.46, 6.63, 10.57 and 11.31 per cent over those fed control diet. The total N retention on BCFA supplementation was improved (p<0.01) due to decreased (p<0.05) urinary N excretion. The concentrations of ruminal total N was 37.07 and 34.77 mg 100 ml-1 in control and BCFA fed groups, respectively. Dietary supplementation BCFA significantly (p<0.01) reduced the ruminal ammonia N concentration as compared to control and the mean values (mg 100 ml-1) were 13.18 and 9.42 in control and BCFA fed groups. The total VFA concentration was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA supplemented group (101.14 mM) than the control (93.05 mM). Among the VFAs, the molar proportion of acetate was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA supplemented group (71.07 mM) as compared to control (64.98 mM). However, the concentration of propionate and butyrate remained unchanged. Amino acids composition of bacterial hydrolysates was similar in both the groups. Ruminal outflow rate of liquid digesta was higher (p<0.01) in BCFA fed group (67.56 l day-1) than control (52.73 l day-1). It is concluded that the dietary supplementation of Na-salt of isobutyric acid in low protein diet improved the nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation characteristics. |
| Keywords:
Branched Chain Volatile Fatty Acid; Sodium Salt; Isobutyric Acid; Nutrient Utilization; Rumen Fermentation; Cattle |
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