Soya oil in diet for growing-fattening bulls : effects on metabolism in the rumen and on apparent digestibility

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Abstract
The diets for growing-fattening bulls in Belgium are usually high in concentrate (Van Eenaeme, Istasse, Gabriel, Clinquart, Maghuin Register and Bienfait, 1990). The fat content of such diets in usually low at about 0.025. Over the recent years, feed manufacturers have incorporated fat in fattening diets. The incorporation rates are usually rather low so that the ether extract content is about 0.05 in fat supplemented regimes. At such rates upsets of intake and digestion and depression of growth could be avoided (Zinn, 1989). The fat concentrates which are incorporated are usually blends of various and very often unknown origins. Conflicting observations were reported on the effects of fat supplementation. Two experiments were carried out to assess the effects of soya oil on metabolism in the rumen and on apparent digestibility.