In situ Ruminal Crude Protein and Starch Degradation of Three Classes of Feedstuffs in Goats

Wang, M., Jiang, J., Tan, Z.L., Tang, S.X., Sun, Z.H. and Han, X.F. 2009. In situ ruminal crude protein and starch degradation of three classes of feedstuffs in goats. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 23-28. Ruminal crude protein (CP) and starch degradability of three classes of feedstuffs: cereals (maize, wheat, barley, buckwheat, rice, millet and sorghum), legumes (horse bean, soybean, pea and mung bean) and tubers (potato, sweat potato and cassava) were assessed using three wether goats. Experiment consisted of 14 periods. During each period, the ruminal CP and starch disappearance of each one of these feedstuffs was measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h, respectively. Significant differences (P<0.001) in the ruminal degradation kinetics parameters of crude protein (CP) and starch were generally observed across cereal grain, legume and tuber feedstuffs, respectively. This study enriches the database of in situ crude protein and starch degradability of feedstuffs, which would play an important role in improving biological CP and starch efficiency for modern ruminant production system.