Twelve lactating dairy cows (Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Zebu) were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to three replicate 4 x 4 Latin squares to compare two schedules of total fecal collection (two versus six days) and the reliability of two internal markers [indigestible neutral detergent fiber (INDF) or indigestible acid detergent fiber (IADF)] to estimate fecal DM excretion (FDME), apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and the total digestible nutrients (TDN) content of the diets. The summative equations from the NRC (2001) model were also used to estimate the energy value of feeds. A diet containing 60% of corn silage (DM basis) plus one of the following proteins sources was fed to animals: soybean meal (SM), 38% CP cottonseed meal (CM38), 28% CP cottonseed meal (CM28), or SM plus 5% of urea/ammonium sulfate in the concentrate DM (SMU). Fecal collection schedule and markers had no effect on the estimates of FDME, nutrient digestibility, and dietary TDN. The summative equations from the NRC (2001) overestimated the intake of digestible CP and NDF and underestimated that of digestible NFC, EE, and TDN. It was concluded that INDF was the most precise marker and two days of total fecal collection was enough to estimate FDME, nutrient digestibility and dietary TDN. The NRC (2001) summative equations did not reliably predict the energy value of tropical feeds.
cottonseed meal; energy; equations; intake; soybean meal; urea
