Table 2 showed rumen fermentation characteristics, BUN and blood glucose of Thai
native cattle given plicatulum hay and soybean meal with different levels of SPP. Rumen pH
were quite stable at 6.81-7.00, values at optimal levels for microbial digestion of fiber
(Hoover, 1986) and also digestion of protein (6.0-7.0) (Van Soest, 1994). Higher NH3
-N and
BUN levels were found in T1
and T2
as compared with T3 and T
4
. The differences in NH3
-N
and BUN concentrations among treatments may have been related directly to protein and
energy levels of diet. In this study, decreased rumen NH3
-N levels were found (p0.05) among dietary
treatments, all were within the normal range around 60 mg/dl (Benjamin, 1978). The data
indicates that the inclusion of SPP in diets did not affect energy status of the cattle.