Effect of Protected Unsaturated Fatty Acids Addition on In Vitro Digestibility and Rumen Microbes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Unsaturated fatty acid supplementation in beef cattle rations is required to improve the quality of meat products. In order to avoid rumen biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids, need the proper protection techniques. This research was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of two protection techniques on unsaturated fatty acids from plant oils to prevent from rumen biohydrogenation. This experiment was conducted in vitro and used fistulated Ongole grade as a rumen liquid donor. The experimental design was a factorial block with 2 factors i.e. protection techniques (no protection/control, microencapsulation, calcium-soap) and source of unsaturated fatty acids (sesame oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil). Rumen pH, total bacteria and protozoa were measured at 4 h incubation, while dry matter and organic matter digestibility were measured at 48 h incubation. The results show that there was no interaction between protection techniques and sources of unsaturated fatty acids on rumen pH, total bacteria, protozoal number, dry matter and organic matter digestibility. The protection of unsaturated fatty acids using microencapsulation and calcium-soap significantly increased (P<O.05) rumen pH compared to the control. Different sources of unsaturated fatty acids did not affect rumen pH. Total bacteria and protozoal number did not significantly increase (P>O.05) with the addition of different sources of unsaturated fatty acids either protected by using microencapsulation or calcium-soap. However, there was a trend of increasing protozoal number and total bacteria with the addition of protected fatty acids by using calcium soap. In vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility was similar among treatments. It is concluded that the protection of unsaturated of fatty acid from plant oils did not interfere the growth of rumen microbes and could stimulate the fermentation activity. The protection of unsaturated of fatty acids by using calcium-soap technique is more effective to stimulate the growth of rumen microbes.