Six Nellore bulls, with initial body weight of 420 kg, were used to evaluate cromium oxide determined by X-ray fluorescence as an external markers of digestibility. Cromium oxide was compared to internal indicators: indigestible NDF (NDFi) incubated in vitro for 144 hours and acid detergent lignin and total feces collection. Digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, CP and EE were estimated. Experimental diets were: 1) soybean meal, in a RDP deficient diet; 2) urea; 3) starea (non protein nitrogen source supposedly of slow release), both diets with adequate RDP. Experimental diets were composed of 80% of concentrate and 20% of forage (in natura sugarcane bagasse) on dry matter basis. Digestibility estimation by using cromium oxide showed similar results with total feces collection. Lignin determination was similar to feces collection when soybean was used; however, when urea and starea were fed, the digestibility coefficient were underestimated. NDFi underestimated digestibility for all nitrogen sources. X-ray fluorescence showed to be a promising technique for cromium determination. Internal markers, NDFi incubated in vitro for 144 hours and the acid detergent lignin did not estimated the indigestible portion of the diet.
markers; NDFi; lignin; cromium oxide; digestibility
