Bamboo forage in Peruvian Amazon: a potential feed for cattle

AbstractDuring the dry and rainy seasons of the Northeastern Zone of Peru, a chemical characterization of five species of bamboo prevalent in the area (Guadua lynnclarkiae,G. takahashiae,Bambusa vulgaris,G. weberbaueri, andDendrocalamus asper) was conducted. Then, the effect of supplementing bamboo leaves (0, 20, and 40% inclusion ofD. asper) on the intake and live weight gain of 18Gyr×Holstein heifers was evaluated for 28 days. Among the species evaluated,D. asper has the greatest crude protein (CP) concentration (158 –166 g/kg Dry matter- DM), post-ruminal CP supply (127 g/kg DM), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (444–456 g/kg DM) but similar concentrations of crude ash (124 g/kg DM), calcium (2.4–2.8 mg/g), phosphorus (0.7–2.1 mg/g), protein fractions A, B1, B2, B3, C (45, 5, 35, 56, and 17g/kg DM, respectively), rumen-undegraded CP (31% CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 685g/kg DM), and acid detergent fiber (ADF,  357 g/kg DM) than the other species evaluated. Dry matter intake was higher in the control treatment and in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment than in the 40% bamboo inclusion treatment. Intake of CP and NDF decreased with the increase in bamboo inclusion. Despite the differences in DM, CP, a nd NDF intake, the live weight gain remained similar across treatments. However, there was a greater feed conversion in the 20% bamboo leaf inclusion treatment. During the dry season, bamboo leaves can be used as an alternative supplement at a maxim...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research