Effects of Eucalyptus crude oils supplementation on nutrients digestibility of swamp buffaloes.
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Eucalyptus (E. Camaldulensis) crude oils (EuO) supplementation on voluntary feed intake and rumen fermentation characteristics of swamp buffaloes. Four ruminally fistulated swamp buffaloes with initial body weight of 321± 23 kg were randomly assigned according to a 2x2 factorial arrangement in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were T1) untreated rice straw (RS) as roughage source without EuO supplementation; T2) UTRS with 2 ml of EuO/hd/d; T3) urea-treated (3%) rice straw (UTRS) without EuO supplementation and T4) UTRS with 2 ml of EuO/hd/d. Experimental animals were kept in individual pens, concentrates were offered at 0.3%BW and roughage were fed ad libitum. The results revealed that voluntary feed intake were improved (P<0.001) by UTRS. Apparent digestibility of OM and NDF were also increased (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively) by UTRS whereas DM, CP and ADF were not affected by neither roughage source nor EuO supplementation. Ruminal pH, temperature and ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentrations were not significantly affected; however, buffaloes fed with UTRS resulted in significantly higher concentration of blood urea nitrogen (P<0.001). The present findings showed that the amylolytic and cellulolytic bacteria population were increased (P<0.001) by UTRS. However, total bacteria, proteolytic, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacteria population were not affected by EuO supplementation. Based on these findings, it is suggested that EuO could be used as feed additive to modify the rumen fermentation.
Source: Buffalo Bulletin
Author: Metha Wanapat
Institution: Khon Kaen University
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2246666689