Feed Quality and Feeding Level Effects on Faecal Composition in East African Cattle Farming Systems
Asep I. M. Ali,
Shimels E. Wassie,
Rainer Georg Joergensen,
Daniel Korir,
John P. Goopy,
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl,
Lutz Merbold,
Uta Dickhoefer,
Eva Schlecht
Affiliations
Asep I. M. Ali
Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel and University of Göttingen, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
Shimels E. Wassie
Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Rainer Georg Joergensen
Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
Daniel Korir
Livestock, System and Environment, Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi 00800, Kenya
John P. Goopy
Livestock, System and Environment, Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi 00800, Kenya
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Livestock, System and Environment, Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi 00800, Kenya
Lutz Merbold
Livestock, System and Environment, Mazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi 00800, Kenya
Uta Dickhoefer
Animal Nutrition and Rangeland Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Eva Schlecht
Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel and University of Göttingen, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
Effects of feeding levels below maintenance requirements of metabolizable energy (MER) and of feed supplementation on fecal nutrient and microbial C concentrations were evaluated. In experiment 1, Rhodes grass hay only was offered to Boran steers at 80%, 60%, and 40% of individual MER, while steers at 100% MER additionally received a concentrated mixture. This reduction in MER decreased N, increased fungal C but did not affect bacterial C concentrations in feces. In experiment 2, Holstein × Boran heifers were offered a poor-quality roughage diet without supplement, with sweet potato vine silage or with a urea-molasses block. These two supplements did not affect the fecal chemical composition or fungal C but increased bacterial C concentrations in feces. Across all data, the fungal C/bacterial C ratio was positively related to N and negatively to neutral detergent fiber concentrations in feces, indicating diet-induced shifts in the fecal microbial community.
