INFLUENCE OF FEEDING FREQUENCY ON PASSAGE OF FLUID AND PARTICULATE MARKERS IN STEERS FED A CONCENTRATE DIET

Abstract

Four beef steers were used to study the influence of feeding a 75% concentrate diet twice (2 ×) versus eight times (8 ×) daily on fluid and particulate passage rate estimates. Passage of ruthenium phenanthroline was not altered by feeding frequency; however, particulate dilution rates differed (P < 0.05) when determined by rumen sampling compared with fecal sampling in 2 ×, but not in 8 × steers. Passage of cobalt ethylenediamine tetracetic acid determined from fecal sampling was higher (P < 0.05) in 8 × than in 2 × steers, but ruminal estimates did not differ. Molar proportions of acetate and butyrate were higher (P < 0.05) and propionate lower (P < 0.05) in 8 × than in 2 × steers. Key words: Feeding frequency, particulate and fluid passage, rumen fermentation