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Effect of a Single Drench of Cooking Oil on Rumen Ecosystem and Performance of Young Local "Yellow" Cattle Fed Rice Straw and Cassava Foliage in Cambodia.
Thesis Abstract:
Like in other developing countries in the region, ruminant feeding in Cambodia relies mainly on rice straw with addition of other crop residues and grass from infertile land. The available feed resources are of poor quality, which result in low production. Rumen manipulation with the removal of protozoa appears to have a considerable potential to improve ruminant productivity. Lipid can be used as a defaunating agent.
The effect of a single drench of locally available cooking oil on local “yellow” cattle fed rice straw and cassava foliage on rumen ecosystem and animal performance was tested.
Twelve growing local “yellow” cattle of 114 kg (SE±4.35) received a basal diet of ad libitum rice straw and rumen supplement at 300g/head/day (15% urea). The four treatments arranged according to a 2x2 factorial design were basal diet (RS), basal diet with single oil drench of 5 ml/kg LW (RSO), basal diet with fresh cassava foliage at 3 percent LW or about 25 percent (DM basis) of the diet (RSC) and RSC with oil drench (RSCO). Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube at 7th, 14th, 28th, 56th, and 84th day related to oil drench to determine pH, ammonia concentration, and protozoa count. Daily feed intakes and fortnightly live weights were recorded for four months.
Results showed that oil drench had negative effect on protozoa population in the rumen. However, there was a rapid reinfestation by the small protozoa (mainly Entodinium) but only a few large protozoa (mainly Polyplastrons and Holotrichs) were observed, being present in significantly (p < .01) smaller numbers than in non-oil groups. The overall protozoa biomass throughout the 84-day trial was estimated to be at least four times lower than in animals that did not receive the oil treatment. Cassava supplement had no significant effect on protozoa. Rumen ammonia concentrations were significantly (p < .01) lower in the cattle that received the oil drench.
Feed intake increased significantly (p < .01) in both oil and non-oil animal as cassava foliage was supplemented but was not affected by oil drench. However, growth rates were significantly increased by the oil drench (p < .05) and by supplementation with cassava foliage (p < .01). The mean values were 53, 124, 210, and 302 g/day (SEM±30) for RS, RSO, RSC, and RSCO, respectively.
The results suggested that cooking oil available in the market of Cambodia (Cabbage brand vegetable cooking oil) can be used as defaunation agent. Oil drench and/or cassava foliage supplement at 3 percent LW (fresh matter) will have a positive effect on animal performance. However, the number of animals employed in the study was small and results from a larger scale experiment are needed before confidence can be expressed in the level of performance. Continuous works should be done on the level of oil to be used and frequency of drench, which give the highest benefit on farm level in the long run. It would also be interesting to test the oil content of locally available by-products such as rubber seed as defaunating agent.