Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences (Aug 2020)

Digestibility of diets with passion fruit by-product estimated through external and internal markers in dairy heifers

  • Mércia Regina Pereira de Figueiredo,
  • Eloisa de Oliveira Simões Saliba,
  • Geraldo Sérgio Carneiro Barbosa,
  • Juliana Cristina Nogueira Colodo,
  • Rebeca Agnes Almança,
  • Guilherme Rocha Moreira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v43i1.50241
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 1

Abstract

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This study examined the influence of the external markers chromium oxide (CO), titanium dioxide (TD), isolated, purified and enriched lignin (LIPE®) and isolated, purified, enriched lignin in nanoparticles (NANOLIPE®) as well as the internal markers indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) in diets with inclusion of passion fruit by-product for dairy heifers on the estimation of fecal output and nutrient digestibility. Sixteen Holstein × Zebu crossbred heifers at an average live weight of 363 ± 28 kg were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design where they received diets in which Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay was replaced with passion fruit by-product (0, 12, 24 and 36%, as-fed basis). The CO, LIPE®, NANOLIPE® and iNDF markers did not differ from the total collection method (p > 0.05) in the estimation of fecal output and nutrient digestibility. The TD and iDM markers overestimated, while iADF underestimated fecal output. Under the presented conditions, we recommend using the CO, LIPE®, NANOLIPE® and iNDF markers to estimate fecal output and nutrient digestibility in diets with inclusion of passion fruit by-product for dairy heifers.

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