ABSTRACT - A trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of five concentrate levels in the diet on the efficiency of microbial synthesis, balance of nitrogen compounds, ammonia concentrate and pH ruminal fluid. Five rumen, abomasum and ileum fistulated F1 Limousin x Nellore bulls were full fed diets containing 25.0, 37.5, 50.0, 62.5, and 75.0% of concentrate and allotted to a 5 x 5 latin square design. The ammonia concentrations and ruminal pH were determined in ruminal fluid samples collected right after the diets supply and 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after. The unicompartimental model using chromic oxide as marker determined the passage rate. The efficiency of microbial synthesis, expressed by different forms, was not influenced by the use of concentrate, obtaining average values of 35.17 g Nmic/kg MODR, 33.01 g Nmic/kg CHODR, and 355.66 g MSmic/kg CHODR. The maximum ammonia concentrations, for all treatments, were 2.92 hours after the diet supply. The ruminal pH fluid linearly decreased with the concentrate levels and the collection times. The passage rates of .065, .081, .064, .049, and .046.h-1 were verified for the treatments with 25.0, 37.5, 50.0, 62.5, and 75.0% of concentrate, respectively. The addition of concentrate in the diets reduced the pH and did not alter the microbial efficiency.
ruminal ammonia; concentrate; microbial efficiency; ruminal pH; passage rate
