Abstract:
In vitro methods of feed evaluation utilise runien liquour from fistulated cattle. Fistulated cattle
are associated with high acquisition and maintenance costs in addition to its implications on
animal welfare. An experiment was conducted to compare in-vitro dry matter (INVDMD) and
organic matter (INVOMD) digestibility of four diets using two sources of inocula namely; (i)
slaughtered cattle and (ii) fistulated steers. Four fistulated crossbred (Friesian x Ankole) steers
were assembled and fed on four diets in a Latin Square change-over arrangement. The two-stage
Tilley and Terry (1963) method of nutrient digestibility was used. The overall INVDMD
significantly increased with dietary crude protein levels (P <0.05). There was no difference in
INVDMD obtained from slaughtered cattle or fistulated steers as inocula sources. Rumen liquour
from slaughtered cattle can successfully replace use of fistulated cattle as the source of inoculum