TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Dietary Protein on Nutrient Digestibility and Nitrogen Metabolism in Thai-Indigenous Heifers
AU - , Anut Chantiratikul AU - , Songsak Chumpawadee AU - , Wanna Kanchanamayoon AU - , Piyanete Chantiratikul 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
SP  - 297
EP  - 300
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2009.297.300
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2009.297.300
KW  - Dietary protein
KW  -nutrient digestibility
KW  -nitrogen utilization
KW  -Thai-indigenous heifers
AB  - Four Thai-indigenous heifers, average 132±11.71 kg of body weight, were used to determine effect of dietary protein levels on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization using a 4x4 Latin square design with 21d period. Heifers were fed diet containing 6, 9, 12 and 15% of CP. The findings revealed that dietary protein levels did not significantly alter (p>0.05) DM, NDF and ADF digestibilities in heifers. However, CP digestibility of heifers markedly increased (p<0.05) with increasing dietary protein levels. N intake, N fecal and urinary N excretion, N digestion and N retention significantly increased (p<0.05) when dietary protein levels increased. N retentions of heifers fed diet containing 6, 9, 12 and 15% CP were 11.53, 18.64, 24.20 and 31.08 g day<SUP>-1</SUP>, respectively. Based on the results, it could be concluded that dietary protein influenced significantly (p<0.05) CP digestibility and N utilization in Thai-indigenous heifers. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that protein requirement for maintenance of Thai-indigenous heifers was lower than 6% of dietary CP.
ER  -