The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding mesquite pod meal (0, 33.3, 66.7 and 100%) to substitute corn meal on purin derivative the excretion, estimated by total urine collection, and on the ruminal parameters (pH, ammonia and volatile fatty acids). Eight lactating goats were used and distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square and fed iso-protein diets consisting of 40% elephant grass silage and 60% concentrate. There was no significant effect from adding mesquite pod meal on the ruminal parameters. The pH ranged from 6.85 to 7.03 and the ruminal ammonia concentration averaged 6.97 mg/100 mL. The acetate and propionate concentrations ranged from 9.47 to 10.54 and 4.79 to 6.58 mM, respectively. The excretion (mmol/day) of allantoin, uric acid and xanthine-hypoxanthine, the quantity of absorbed purines, the nitrogen microbial intestinal flow (g/day), microbial nitrogen synthesis (g/day) and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis efficiency, expressed in g of microbial crude protein/kg of the total digestible nutrients, presented linear negative response to corn replacement with mesquite pod meal. Microbial synthesis in goats must be estimated by the purine derivatives excretion using equations obtained from goats.
goats; microbial protein; purine derivatives; Prosopis juliflora; ruminal fermentation
