Dynamics of degradation of high-quality tropical forage according to levels of nitrogen supplementation

The present study aimed to evaluate the degradation dynamics of high-quality tropical forage according to the levels of nitrogen supplementation. In this study, 4 rumen-fistulated cows with a body weight of 653 ± 47 kg were used. These animals were distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. Cows were kept under a grazing regime in an area formed by Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania. These animals received 4 levels of crude protein (CP) in the supplements (122, 142, 162, and 180 g/kg of CP in DM). The degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was determined by in situ incubation of forage samples at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. Both the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and the microbial protein synthesis were affected by CP levels of the supplements ( P