Evaluation of protein degradation characteristics and metabolisable protein of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and locally available protein supplements

摘要: Degradation characteristics of crude protein (CP) and metabolisable (MP) feeds for early-weaned, growing finishing beef bulls were evaluated in three experiments. Feeds experiment 1 fresh elephant grass (FEG) molasses supplemented with sweet potato vines (SPV) diet 1, supplemental (GCM) compounded from gliricidia, cottonseed cake (CSC), maize bran NaCl 2 a commercial concentrate (CC) 3. basal stover mixed (MSM) FEG SPV GCM CC In 3, MSM varying levels gliricidia inclusion. Supplemental (GM) containing used (CM) CSC, Degradabilities experimental measured at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 h by the nylon bag technique using two rumen fistulated steers (300±10 kg). Effective CP degradabilities experiments varied (P<0.05) supplements. effective supplements 668.3 g kg−1 to 722.1 743.7 GCM. degradable (ERDP), digestible udegradable (DUP) MP among 2, did not vary but ERDP 83.7 116.6 123.8 followed similar trends. decreased increasing increased lower while DUP 18.2 CM 23.6 36.6 GM. These data have shown that majority locally available this study are degradation is more suitable providing undegradable Uganda.