Effects of Different Forages in Fermented Total Mixed Rations on Nutrient Utilization and Ruminating Behaviours of Growing Yellow Cattle in Vietnam

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of forage sources in fermented total mixed rations (FTMR) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen characteristics and ruminating behaviours of local growing yellow cattle. Four male growing cattle with 12 months of age, initial live weight of 136.1 ± 9.44 kg (mean ± standard deviation) were used in a 4x4 Latin square design experiment. Treatments were forage sources namely corn foliage (FTMR1), cassava foliage (FTMR2), sugarcane leafy tops (FTMR3) and elephant grass (FTMR4). Forage sources accounted 60% of FTMR (DM basis). FTMRs were provided ad libitum. The experiment included four periods, 26 days/period; in each period, the first 21 days for adaptation and then 5 days for sample collection. Results showed that, the forage sources in FTMRs had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the DM intake. However, the forage sources in FTMRs significantly affected (P<0.05) DM and OM digestibilities, whereas CP and NDF digestibilities were not significantly different among FTMRs (P>0.05). Forage sources in FMTRs did not affect rumen characteristics (P>0.05); however, significantly affected ruminating behaviours (P<0.05). The forage sources in FTMRs significantly affected (P<0.05) eating rate, ruminating efficiency, chewing efficiency and feed value index. These results indicated that, all forages in this study can be used as main ingredients in FTMRs for cattle production in Vietnam.