Effects of differents forms of urea processing in the Coast Cross (Cynodon dactylon ) hay degradability by gas production technique

Abstract

There are many available methods to evaluate feed quality. Gas production technique is between these ones, as it quantifies total gas production resulting from the fermentation of the buffered ruminal liquid samples. The objective was to evaluate the effect of distinct urea processing forms in the ruminal degradability of Coast cross (Cynodon dactylon) hay by gas production technique. Four treatments based on urea as the non protein nitrogen (NPN) source were used: Amireia 150S, NitroshureTM Encapsulated Urea, Ultrapec Super Fine Urea and animal feed Urea. Two rumen-cannulated Jersey cows were used for ruminal liquid collection. An in vitro degradability assay was done by the DM and NDF gas production technique. Evaluations were performed at 1; 3; 6; 9; 12; 18; 24; 30; 36; 48; 60 e 72 hours post ruminal inoculum addition. There was no treatment effect (P>0.05). This lack of effect may have possibly occurred due to the high CP content of the hay used. The cumulative gas production was not influenced by the various urea types used as NPN sources. However, ureas processed distinctly tended to yield greater gas productions, degradability rates and effective degradability.