Synchronized Feeding of Ingredients in Paddy Straw Based Feeding System on Ruminal Microbial Protein Synthesis in Crossbred Cattle Calves*

A survey followed by in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to enhance rumen microbial protein synthesis in low milk yielding cattle under paddy straw based feeding system without altering the quantity of forage/feed ingredients. The survey revealed that majority of farmers fed roughages twice daily during morning and evening and supplemented with groundnut cake at forenoon and evening along with de-oiled rice bran in drinking water. The half time (t½) of organic matter and nitrogen degradation determined by in vitro system (RUSITEC) for paddy straw was 29±2 and 40±6 h, respectively. The respective t½ time of organic matter and nitrogen degradation for the commonly fed supplemental feeds viz., groundnut cake and de-oiled rice bran was 7±1 and 9±1 and 8±0 and 7±1 h, respectively. Altering the feeding strategy based on t½ value of organic matter and nitrogen sources did not increase the rumen microbial protein yield either in in vitro or in vivo experiments. There was comparable microbial nitrogen synthesis per kg metabolic body weight of animal between evolved and farmer's feeding strategies in paddy straw based feeding system (0.562 vs. 0.563 g/d). Hence, it was recommended to adopt farmers feeding strategy in paddy straw based feeding system.