Abstract

MAEDA, E.M. et al. Evaluation of markers used in the studies of intake and digestibility in cattle and buffalo. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2011, vol.60, n.229, pp.123-131. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922011000100014.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate three internal markers of digestibility: indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF), by comparing them with chromium oxide as external marker in the estimation of omasal and fecal flows and dry matter intake (DMI) of diets containing 60% of sugar cane silage and 40% concentrate. Four buffalos and four bovines, fitted with ruminal cannula, were used in a replicated split-plot 4 x 4 Latin square design with 2 species (buffalo and bovine) and 4 diets distributed among plots and 4 markers (Cr₂O₃, iADF, iNDF, and iDM) as subplots. Omasal flows differed between markers and animal species (interaction p<0.05). In buffalos, but not in cattle, there were large differences between omasal flow estimates from MSi and Cr₂O₃, while iNDF and iADF underestimated omasal flow in both species although to larger extent in buffalo than in cattle Fecal output estimates differed between markers similarly for both species, with all internal markers differing from Cr₂O₃. Estimates of IMS derived from Cr₂O₃ as faecal output markers, differed between internal digestibility markers to similar exent for all diets and species. Dietary IMS estimated from MSi and iADF did not differ from observed values, suggesting their potential as digestibility markers in the estimation of intake while Cr₂O₃ and iDM could be used to estimate omasal flows in cattle.

Keywords : Indigestible NDF; Indigestible ADF; Indigestible DM; Chromium oxide.

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