Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:S:Small Ruminant Research:Vol38.Issue2.Oct2000:

Small Ruminant Research 38 (2000) 165±174

Effects of feeding Italian ryegrass with corn on rumen environment,
nutrient digestibility, methane emission, and energy and
nitrogen utilization at two intake levels by goats
M. Islam*,1, H. Abe, Y. Hayashi, F. Terada
Energy Metabolism Laboratory, National Institute of Animal Industry, Tsukuba Norin-danchi, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan
Received 6 December 1999; accepted 22 March 2000

Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of corn addition to Italian ryegrass (IRG) (Lolium multi¯orum Lam.) on
rumen environment, nutrient digestibility, methane production and energy and nitrogen utilization by goats at two intake
levels. Eight castrated Japanese goats were employed in two sequential digestion and metabolism trials. The goats were
divided into two groups, offered two diets: Diet 1 consisted of 85% Italian ryegrass pellet (IRG) and 15% soybean meal; and
Diet 2 consisted of 42.5% IRG, 7.5% soybean meal and 50% corn. The two intake levels were, high (1.6 times) and low (0.9
times) maintenance requirement of total digestible nutrient (TDN). Rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) level of Diet 1 was
lower (p