Effects of Fibrolytic Enzymes on Ruminal Fermentation and Digestibility in Steers Fed Diets with Sodium Bicarbonate

Abstract

Montañez-Valdez, O.D., Pinos-Rodríguez, J.M., Martínez-Tinajero, J.J., Rojo-Rubio, R., Salinas-Chavira, J. and Avellaneda-Cevallos, J.H. 2010. Effects of fibrolytic enzymes on ruminal fermentation and digestibility in steers fed diets with Sodium bicarbonate. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 191–196.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (ENZ) on ruminal fermentation and disappearance in steers fed high-concentrate diets with sodium bicarbonate (SB, 3% of total diet). Six ruminally cannulated steers (450±15 kg) were randomly assigned to a replicate 3×3 Latin square. Experimental high-concentrate diets (70% concentrate DM) were as follow: control; ENZ (0.3% enzymes) and ENZ+BS (0.3% enzymes plus 3% SB). Dry matter intake, ruminal pH, ammonia N, ruminal disappearance of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of diets were not affected by ENZ or ENZ+SB. Steers fed ENZ and ENZ+SB spent more time ruminating and resting and less time eating than steers on control diet. Ruminal pH and ammonia N concentrations in steers fed ENZ+BS were greater than in steers fed ENZ or not supplemented. There were scarce effects of fibrolytic enzymes on Ruminal disappearance and fermentation of high-concentrate diet with sodium bicarbonate for steers.

Key words:

• Fibrolytic enzymes
• sodium bicarbonate
• digestibility