Effect of dietary neutral detergent fiber levels on nutrient intake, digestibility, rumen parameters and nitrogen retention of crossbred Wagyu cattle
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen parameters, and nitrogen retention of crossbred beef cattle. Four male F1 (Wagyu x Zebu crossbred) cattle were used in a 4x4 Latin square design. The treatments were 47, 51, 55, and 59% NDF in diets corresponding to NDF47, NDF51, NDF55, and NDF59 treatments. One experimental period lasted 14 days with 7 days for adaptation and 7 days for sampling. The results of experiment showed that dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein intake were not different (P>0.05) among treatments. The metabolizable energy intake (MJ/animal/day) was reduced (P<0.05) from NDF47 to NDF59 treatments. The DM and OM digestibility were significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments with the highest value for NDF47 treatment (64.3% and 66.4%) and lowest for NDF59 treatment (55.7% and 58.5%), while NDF47 treatment was not different (P>0.05) compare to NDF55 treatment (59.1 and 61.4%). Rumen pH, N-NH3 and total volatile fatty acids concentrations at 0h and 3h after feeding of experimental cattle were not different (P>0.05) among treatments. Nitrogen retention value was numerically higher in NDF47, NDF51 and NDF55 treatments compared to NDF59 treatment (P>0.05) and a similar trend of the observed daily weight gain was found in the treatments. The conclusion that NDF level was 55% in the diet was promising in the application.
