Abstract In vitro ruminal fermentation dynamics of isoenergetic (10.9 MJ ME kg-1) and isoproteic (12.1% CP) diets for cattle were determined, with gradual replacement levels of 0.0 (T0, control), 32.4 (T32), 77.6 (T78) and 100.0% (T100) of ground corn grain, on a dry basis, mainly by integral sweet potato silage. Accumulated gas production during the 96 h of in vitro fermentation was analyzed with a mixed generalized linear model. The increases in gas production during the initial stage were 73.0, 80.0, 98.0 and 103.8, in the intermediate stage were 82.0, 75.5, 73.2 and 70.5, and in the final were 50.0, 51.8, 45.2 and 44.8 mL g-1 of incubated organic matter (incOM) for T0, T32, T78 and T100, respectively. In the initial stage, the highest increases of T78 and T100 were attributed to the greater availability of soluble carbohydrates and sugars. In the intermediate period, the increase in T0 was explained by the degradation of protein matrix that surrounds corn starch. In the final stage, the lower increases were related to the limited availability of fermentable substrates and microbial recycling. On average, T78 and T100 showed greater fermentative potential (259.2 mL.g-1 incOM), microbial efficiency rate (0.13), maximum speed (12.4 mL.g-1 incOM h-1) and less time to reach maximum speed (9.90 h). It is concluded that, in in vitro conditions, diets with sweet potato integral silage provided greater nutrient availability for ruminal microorganisms, which favors energy supply for the different metabolic processes in the rumen.
Resumen Se determinó la dinámica de fermentación ruminal in vitro de dietas isoenergéticas (10.9 MJ EM kg-1) e isoproteicas (12.1 % PB) para bovinos, con niveles graduales de reemplazo de 0.0 (T0, control), 32.4 (T32), 77.6 (T78) y 100.0 % (T100) del grano de maíz molido, en base seca, principalmente, por ensilado integral de camote o boniato. La producción acumulada de gas durante las 96 h de fermentación in vitro se analizó con un modelo lineal generalizado mixto. Los incrementos en la producción de gas durante la fase inicial fueron 73.0, 80.0, 98.0 y 103.8; en la fase intermedia 82.0, 75.5, 73.2 y 70.5, y en la final 50.0, 51.8, 45.2 y 44.8 mL g-1 de materia orgánica incubada (MOinc) para T0, T32, T78 y T100, respectivamente. En la etapa inicial, los mayores incrementos en T78 y T100 se atribuyeron a la mayor disponibilidad de azúcares y carbohidratos solubles. En la intermedia, el incremento de T0 se explicó por la degradación de la matriz proteica que envuelve el almidón del maíz. En la final, los menores incrementos se relacionaron con la limitada disponibilidad de sustratos fermentables y con el reciclaje microbiano. Como promedio, T78 y T100 mostraron mayor potencial fermentativo (259.2 mL.g-1 MOinc), tasa de eficiencia microbiana (0.13), velocidad máxima (12.4 mL.g-1 MOinc h-1) y menor tiempo para alcanzar la velocidad máxima (9.90 h). Se concluye que en condiciones in vitro, las dietas con ensilado integral de camote aportaron mayor disponibilidad de nutrientes para los microorganismos ruminales, lo que favorece el aporte de energía para los diferentes procesos metabólicos en el rumen.