Ruminal degradability in dry and lactating cows, with 70% or 50% of roughage as dry matter diets

Abstract

Four dry and four lactating Holstein heifers, received the following treatments to evaluate rumen degradabilities of soybean meal, rice meal, coast cross hay and sugar cane, through a dacron bag in situ technique: A = 70% roughage diet; dry cows; B = 70% roughage diet, lactating cows; C = 50% roughage diet, dry cows and D = 50% roughage diet, lactating cows. A randomized block design was used and the treatments had four repetitions in different times. Dry cows presented a higher degradability rate for soybean meal, coast cross hay and sugar cane than lactating females. Lactating cows consumed 40% more dry matter than the dry ones and presented higher rumen liquid turn-over. Coast cross hay and sugar cane were better digested with 70% roughage diets, than with the 50% roughage diets.