Abstract

SILVA, F.F. et al. Fecal production and digestibility estimed by internal indicators compared to the total collection. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.224, pp.741-744. ISSN 1885-4494.

Sixteen heifers (¾ Holstein vs. ¼ Zebu) which were feed with elephant grass silage added with cassava hulls as only food and, later, the silage with concentrate. It was estimated the dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and the fecal production using internal indicators neutral detergent fiber indigestible (NDFi) and acid detergent fiber indigestible (ADFi), which were compared to the total collection method. The use of the NDFi to estimate the fecal excretion and the silage DM and NDF digestibility showed statistical difference (p<0.05) relative to that obtained by the total collection. The NDFi overestimated the fecal production and underestimated the DM and NDF digestibility, what can be attributed to the experimental material inherent variability. The fecal excretion, estimated by the NDFi and ADFi, of the diets differed statistically (p<0.05) and was different to that obtained by total collection. The ADFi overestimated the fecal production and underestimated the DM and NDF digestibility, a result, different of that found when the fecal excretion was estimated and analised the digestibility of the silage with different levels of cassava hulls only in the present experiment. More studies with indicators should be realized.

Keywords : ADFi; NDFi; Heifers; Cassava hulls.

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