Influences of Energy Sources and Levels Supplementation on Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Protein Synthesis in Dairy Steers

S. Khampa and M. Wanapat

Four rumen fistulated dairy steers were randomly assigned according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments (Factor A = source of energy; CM = corn meal, CC = cassava chip), (Factor B = level of supplementation; 1 and 2% of BW). Four dietary treatments were used: CM1, CM2, CC1 and CC2, respectively. Results revealed that supplementation of cassava chip at 2 %BW, was lower ruminal pH than that of CM1, CM2 and CC1, respectively. In addition, cellulolytic bacteria populations was decreased while protozoa increase with affected by energy source and level supplementation. The result from this experiment suggested that supplementation of energy sources at 2 %BW, especially from cassava chip was reduced ruminal pH lowest but increasing populations of protozoa in rumen of dairy steers.