Parameters of fermentation and rumen microbiota of Nellore steers fed with different proportions of concentrate in fresh sugarcane containing diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a fresh sugarcane-based diet and different roughage-to-concentrate ratios (70: 30, 60: 40, 40: 60 and 20: 80) on the rumen microbiota associated with rumen fermentation parameters and the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients in Nellore steers. Eight rumen-cannulated Nellore steers (331 +/- 8 kg BW) were distributed in a double 4 x 4 Latin square design balanced for the control of the residual effect. The ruminal pH decreased (p < 0.01) and the concentrations of N-NH3, isovaleric and valeric acids increased linearly (p < 0.05) with an increase dietary concentrate level. Furthermore, an increased concentrate proportion reduced the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococus flavefaciens (p < 0.01) and increased the population of Selenomonas ruminantium and Megasphaera elsdenii (p < 0.01). The protozoa count revealed a predominance of the genus Entodinium. The synthesis of microbial N [g/d] and the efficiency of microbial synthesis [g of microbial N/kg of organic matter apparently digested in the rumen] increased as the proportion of concentrate was increased (p < 0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that an increasing proportion of concentrate in sugarcane-containing diets enhances the synthesis of microbial protein and does not alter the fibre digestibility, although the population of fibre fermenting bacteria was reduced.