Substituição Parcial da Forragem pelo Caroço de Algodão: Comportamento Ingestivo e Consistência da Camada Flutuante da Digesta Ruminal

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the partial substitution of forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with whole or processed cottonseed NDF on feeding behavior and ruminal mat consistency of lactating Holstein cows cannulated in the rumen, which were assigned in a 6×6 Latin square design during 90 days. Two control diets were utilized, one with low (LFD = low forage diet) and another one with high (HDF = high forage diet) forage NDF (fNDF), which represented respectively the negative (16% fNDF; DBF) and positive (21% fNDF; DAF) controls. Four experimental rations were balanced to contain 16% fNDF and 5% NDF from whole or processed cottonseed. There was a reduction (P<0.05) in the times spent with rumination and mastication in the cottonseed diets compared with the 21% fNDF diet (DAF). There was no effect (P>0.05) of the partial substitution of fNDF with cottonseed NDF on ruminal mat consistency. Taking into account the feeding behavior as a criterion of evaluation, the effectiveness of cottonseed NDF was lower than the 21% fNDF diet (DAF), however, considering the ruminal mat consistency as a way of assessment, the effectiveness of cottonseed NDF was similar to the forages utilized in the present study. The ways of processing did not alter the effectiveness of cottonseed NDF. Key-words: effective fiber, lint, mastication 1 Universidade Federal de Goiás, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Campus II, Samambaia. 2 Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Departamento de Zootecnia. 3 Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano Campus Iporá Avenida Oeste s/n, saída para Piranhas – Iporá/GO – CEP: 76.200-000 Fone:(64) 3674-0400. *E-mail: eduardo.carvalho@ifgoiano.edu.br. Autor para correspondência. 4 AGROCRIA Comercio e Indústria LTDA. 5 Universidade Estadual de Goiás, São Luis de Montes Belos. Recebido em: 23/01/2014. Aprovado em: 25/04/2014. M. L. M. Lima et al. Gl. Sci Technol, Rio Verde, v. 07, n. 01, p.129 – 139, jan/abr. 2014. 130