Tropical pasture hay utilization with slaframine and cottonseed meal: ruminal characteristics and digesta passage in wethers.

Sixteen mature, ruminally cannu- lated wethers (average BW = 41 k 1 kg) were fed a low-quality hay diet with or without a cottonseed meal (CSM) supplement and the parasympathomimetic agonist slaframine (SF). Treatments were basal diet (Mitchell grass hay, 4.8% CP, 46.8% ADF) available on an ad libitum basis, basal diet plus SF (8 g/kg BW, 2 x daily i.m. injection), basal diet plus CSM (41.0% CP; 100 gid), or basal diet plus SF and CSM. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial within a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square with 20-d periods followed by a 10-d adjustment during which only the basal diet was fed. All measurements were performed within the final 10 d of each period. Slaframine increased salivary flow by 10 to 35% (P < .07), ruminal fluid dilution rate by 8 to 11% (P < .lo), and pH by 3 to 4% (P < .001). A twofold increase (P < .05) in ruminal cellulolytic bacteria numbers occurred in SF-treated wethers. Despite these SF-induced changes in the ruminal environment, whole-tract apparent nutrient digestibility, N and mineral balance, and ruminal VFA concentrations were not changed. Cot- tonseed meal increased forage intake by 34 to 54% (P < .OOl) and DM digestibility by 30% (P < .001). Cottonseed meal supplementation of a Mitchell grass hay diet improved nutritional status and attenuated live weight loss.