Twelve cows were allotted to three 4 × 4 Latin Squares to evaluate pH, ammonium nitrogen, microbial protein production, number of protozoa in the rumen, plasma and milk urea concentration and balance of nitrogen compounds. Treatments consisted of maize silage or sugarcane with whole cottonseed, at 0, 7 or 14%. There were no differences on pH between sugarcane treatments, despite the reduction of values after the beginning of feeding. Ammonium nitrogen values were kept above 15 mg/dL after 6 hours of the beginning of feeding by maize silage and sugarcane with 7% whole cottonseed treatment. The higher DM and nutrients intake by maize silage treatment implied in less efficient use of nitrogen with higher urine N-urea excretion compared to other treatments (150.6 vs 96.0 mg/kg BW). Sugarcane with 7% whole cottonseed treatment obtained greater amounts of total purines (PT), absorbed purines (PA), microbial nitrogen (207,6 vs 185,2 g/d) and better balance of nitrogen compounds (31,5 vs 15,5) in relation to other sugarcane treatments. The lower DM and EE intake when supplied sugarcane without whole cottonseed resulted on high protozoa counts (129.4 vs 34.0 × 10³/mL), higher urine nitrogen excretion and lower microbial protein synthesis compared to other treatments, which indicates lack of energy and protein degradation synchronism, on forage:concentrate ratio proposed by this experiment.
allantoin; ammonium nitrogen; creatinine; protozoan; uric acid
