Pham Ho Hai et al., 2009. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 21 (9): 156

Four Lai Sind bulls (26-28 months of age and 290 kg average live weight with permanent rumen cannulas were fed a basal diet of natural grass and levels of dried cassava root peelings (RP) of: 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 kg DM per 100 kg LW. These treatments were applied according to a 4*4 Latin Square arrangement with periods of 30 days on each treatment. Increasing the offer of RP resulted in: reduced intake of the grass but increased overall intake of DM; a reduced concentration of rumen ammonia with minimal effects on rumen pH; an increase in the rumen protozoal population but a reduction in that of bacteria; a decrease in the rumen degradability of grass DM with minimal effects on the degradability of the cassava root peelings. Despite the apparently negative effects on the balance of rumen bacteria and protozoa, the overall impact of the RP supplementation appeared to be a better balance of nutrients to the animal as reflected in the linear increase in total DM intake.