Effect of cinnamon bark meal (Cinnamomum burmanni Ness ex Bl) addition as cinnamaldehyde source on in vitro nutrient digestibility

Protection of high-quality protein from rumen microbe degradation by cinnamaldehyde might improve feed protein utilization for ruminants. The study investigated the effect of cinnamon bark meal as a source of cinnamaldehyde on in vitro nutrient digestibility. This research consisted of the diet without (control) and with cinnamon bark meal at 1.16, 2.3, 3.5, and 4.6 of feed dry matter (DM) equivalent to 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg cinnamaldehyde per kg DM. Feed consisted of 60 elephant grass, 30 wheat bran and 10 soybean meal. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications. Data obtained were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) continued by DMRT. The results showed that the addition of cinnamon bark meal up to 4.6 did not affect dry matter, organic matter and crude fiber digestibility, but decreased (P<0,05) rumen crude protein digestibility (48 h) and increased total crude protein digestibility (96 h). It was concluded that the cinnamon bark meal addition up to 4.6 of DM feed or equal to cinnamaldehyde with 800 mg per kg DM feed could increase crude protein digestibility (96 h) without any adverse effects on in vitro nutrient digestibility.