Nutrient digestibility, characteristics of rumen fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis from Pesisir cattle diet containing non-fiber carbohydrate to rumen degradable protein ratio and sulfur supplement.

Background and Aim: To achieve optimal feed efficiency in ruminants, especially Pesisir cattle, it is necessary to maintain a harmonious equilibrium between energy and protein levels within the rumen. Sulfur supplementation can potentially escalate the energy-protein balance in the rumen. The aim of this study was to explore the formulation of ruminant diets by synchronizing rumen degradable protein (RDP) and non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) while adding sulfur minerals at different levels. Nutrient digestibility, NH3 concentration, volatile fatty acids (VFA) production, microbial protein synthesis (MPS), and methane gas production were assessed. Materials and Methods: We employed a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and examined diverse incubation periods of 6, 24, and 48 h. Treatment consisted of RDP (60% and 65%), NFC (35% and 40%), and sulfur (0%, 0.15%, and 0.3%) levels. In this study, the Tilley and Terry in vitro technique, which used Pesisir cattle's rumen fluid, was employed to assess the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and RDP-Rumen undegradable protein. In addition, it measures various rumen fluid attributes, including pH, NH3, VFA, MPS, and methane gas production. Results: Treatment with a coordinated combination of 65% RDP and 40% NFC combined with 0.15% sulfur supplement yielded significantly improved digestibility and notably reduced methane gas production (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The enhancement in digestibility and reduction in methane gas emissions can be attributed to the interaction of RDP, NFC, and sulfur. Feed digestibility was increased in the 65% RDP treatment with 40% NFC and 0.15% sulfur, along with a decrease in methane gas production.

The balance of rumen degradable protein and readily available carbohydrate in sheep rations on in vitro fermentability.

Objective: Protein and carbohydrates are substances needed by ruminants, especially sheep. Providing protein and carbohydrates must pay attention to their degradation. In addition, balancing nutrients to meet the nutritional needs of rumen microbes is very important because the unbalanced availability of rumen degradable protein (RDP) and readily available carbohydrate (RAC) at one time can cause suboptimal microbial protein synthesis efficiency. Materials and Methods: Completely randomized design with a nonfactorial pattern of five treatments with three replications. Treatment includes RDP and RAC ratios, namely R1 = 2.30, R2 = 2.00, R3 = 1.70, R4 = 1.50, and R5 = 1.30. Results: The results showed that the balance of RDP and RAC in sheep ration formulation in vitro had a very significant effect (p < 0.01) on NH3, microbial protein synthesis, total gas, total microbes, and organic matter digestibility (OMD) but had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on rumen pH and dry matter digestibility (DMD). Conclusion: The optimal balance of RDP and RAC in the formulation of sheep rations in vitro was obtained at a ratio of 2.30 with NH3 (mM) 8.47, rumen pH 5.97, microbial protein synthesis (mg/100 ml) 123, gas (ml/g of material) 145, total microbes (cells/ml) 2.012 × 106, (log CFU cells/ml) 6.3025, DMD 61.0%, and OMD 63.1%.