CAROTENOIDS DIGESTION IN AFRICAN STARGRASS (Cynodon plectostachyus) DETERMINED WITH In Situ TECHNIQUES IN CATTLE

Dry matter (DM) and total carotenoids disappearane in the rumen and intestinal passage of African stargrass (AS) were measured in 4 Holstein steers using rumen In situ and a mobile nylon bag technique in duodenum, respectively. A higher proportion of DM and total carotenoids (P<0.05) in the AS disappeared in the rumen during first 12 h. Correlation value between the disappearance of DM and total carotenoids in the rumen was 0.997 (P < 0.001). Fifty three percentage of the carotenoids disappeared from the duodenal bags in the lower digestive tract when it was not incubated in the rumen. Carotenoids disappearance in small intestine was lower in the samples incubated in rumen. These results show an availability of 70% in carotenoids into the total digestive tract. In conclusion, AS is a high availability of total carotenoids in the digestive tract of ruminants and is perhaps one of the main sources of food that affects the yellow color of fat in cattle.

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