Differencial rumen protozoa counting from steers fed Napier elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) at different maturity stages

Authors

  • José Carlos Machado Nogueira Filho Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP
  • Carlos de Souza Lucci Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP
  • Laércio Melotti Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP
  • Maria Ely Miserochi de Oliveira Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, São Paulo, SP
  • Cesar Gonçalves de Lima Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP
  • José Aparecido da Cunha Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, São Paulo, SP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.1992.51987

Keywords:

Rumen (microbiology), Protozoa, Nutrition of ruminants, Cattle

Abstract

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) in-3 growing stages: a) 1,30 m tall and 17.54% dry matter; b) 2.35 m tall and 25.84% dry matter: and c) 3,25 m tall and 26.31% dry matter, was fed "ad libitum" to eight rumen fistulated steers all crossbred (5/8 european-zebu) weighting 220 kg, being fed 1,5 kg of a concentrate meal with 24.16% of crude protein. Treatments were compared in a completely randonmized design using the 4th week of each experimental period for rumen liquor sampling for differencial counts of the following protozoa: Entodinium, Diplodinium, Eudipiodinium and Polyplastron. Results showed Entodinium as 96.73% of total protozoa and its concentration per mililiter of rumen fluid decreased linearly as the plant matured (a = 18.2 x 104/ml; b = 12.1 x 104/ml; and c = 9.8 x 104/ml).

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Published

1992-12-02

Issue

Section

ANIMAL NUTRITION AND NUTRITIONAL DISEASES

How to Cite

Differencial rumen protozoa counting from steers fed Napier elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) at different maturity stages. (1992). Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 29(2), 215-221. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1678-4456.bjvras.1992.51987