Feces of different species as inoculum for dry matter in vitro digestibility of feeding ruminants

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Grande Dourados- Dourados/MS, for analyze different types of inoculum as alternatives to the use of rumen fluid to determine the dry matter in vitro digestibility. We obtained four (04) types of treatments: (LR) rumen fluid (control), cattle feces (FB), horse feces (FE) and rabbit feces (FC) at a dilution of 100/300 (buffer/feces). We evaluated the foods: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, soybean hulls, grain maize, sunflower crushed and Russel grass harvested at 48 days old. Method was used in two steps, and the samples incubated in the rumen fermenter (TE-150 - Tecnal^®). The experimental design was completely randomized design with four treatments (inoculated) and two replications. The inoculum with the feces of rabbits had the lowest yield, with values ranging from 21.66 to 77.01% among all treatments showed the lowest IVDMD (mean 42.85%). The rumen fluid showed IVDMD ranged from 54.89 to 94.69%, with the roughages with an average of 65.82 and 93.96% of energy concentrate. The equine dung and IVDMD were lower than the rumen fluid, and the FE had values of 79.75% and 76.42% for soybean hulls and corn grain. In general the fecal inoculums were not efficient, with values observed below the rumen fluid.