Cabral et al., 2008. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 37 (5): 919-925

The objectives of the present work were to determine nitrogen compounds flow into the abomasum, total carbohydrate and organic matter ruminal degradation, microbial efficiency, N-NH3 concentration and ruminal pH in cattle fed with diets based on corn silage, elephant grass silage and Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay. Six ruminal and abomasal fistulated cattle were utilized in a double 3 × 3 latin square. Abomasal digesta dry matter of and microbial dry matter flows were determined by use of indigestible neutral detergent fiber and base purines as microbial marker, respectively. The N-NH3 concentration and ruminal pH were determined before and 2, 4 and 8 hours after feeding. The diets based on corn silage and Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay provided higher nitrogen compounds flow into abomasum. Isolated bacteria from rumen averaged 8.89% of total N and had an N-RNA:N-total ration of 18.40. The corn silage diet provided higher ruminal degradation of organic matter (2.96 kg/day) and of total carbohydrates (3.07 kg/day) and higher microbial matter flow to the abomasum (788.28 g/day). The Tifton-85 bermudagrass hay and elephant grass silage diets had the greatest microbial efficiencies, which values were 28.10 and 30.39 g of microbial N/kg of rumen degradable carbohydrates. The corn silage diet showed lower N-NH3 concentration and ruminal pH after feeding, possibly indicating reduction of microbial efficiency.