Table 1 : Chemical composition (g / kg) of, organic matter (OM), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and crude protein (CP) of the diets given in lambs growth trial. The diets D90, D70, D60 and D50 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively. Table 2. Chemical composition (g / kg) of, organic matter (OM), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and crude protein (CP) of the diets given in rams digestion trial. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively.

Table 3. Effect of defaunation on intake, growth and feed conversion efficiency of lambs consuming diets composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass harvested at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth. The diets were formulated to provide 4 protein / energy ratios (PDIN / UF) of 90, 70, 60 and 50 on diet D90 (14 days of regrowth), D70 (28 days of regrowth), D60 (42 days of regrowth) and D50 (56 days of regrowth) respectively. Table 4. Effect of defaunation on dry matter intake and apparent digestibility in the total tract of organic matter (OM), cell wall (NDF) and crude protein (CP) of rams consuming diets composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass harvested at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth. The diets were formulated to provide 4 protein / energy ratios (PDIN / UF) of 120, 110, 90 and 60 on diet D 120 (14 days of regrowth), D110 (28 days of regrowth), D90 (42 days of regrowth) and D60 (56 days of regrowth) respectively.

Table 5 : Effect of defaunation on nitrogen intake, duodenal nitrogen flow, microbial synthesis efficiency, faecal and urinary excretion of rams consuming diets composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass harvested at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth. The diets were formulated to provide 4 protein / energy ratios (PDIN / UF) of 120, 110, 90 and 60 on diet D120 (14 days of regrowth), D110 (28 days of regrowth), D90 (42 days of regrowth) and D60 (56 days of regrowth) respectively.

Table 1 Chemical composition (g / kg) of, organic matter (OM), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) and crude protein (CP) of the diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively.

Table 2 : Effect of defaunation on some cellulolytic bacteria, in the rumen of rams consuming 4 diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively. Table 3 : Effect of defaunation on enzymatic activity (polysaccharidases) in rumen solid- associated microorganisms, in rams consuming 4 diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively.

Table 4: Effect of defaunation on enzymatic activity (glycosidases) in rumen solid- associated microorganisms, in rams consuming 4 diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively. Table 5: Effect of defaunation on in situ dry matter (DM) degradation, and Ammonia (NH3) in the rumen of rams consuming 4 diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively.

Table 6: Effect of defaunation on pH and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA), in the rumen of rams consuming 4 diets. The diets D120, D110, D90 and D60 were composed of fresh Digitaria decumbens grass at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of age of regrowth respectively

Figure 1 : Effets de la défaunation sur la croissance (GMQ, g/j) dagneaux en fonction de la teneur en azote/énergie (g PDIN/UF) de rations composées de fourrage (Digitaria decumbens) sans concentré, ou avec concentré (mélange de mais et tourteau de soja). Moyennes ajustées des deux études expérimentales. Figure 2 : Effets de la défaunation sur la croissance (GMQ, g/%PV) en fonction des quantités de MS ingérées (MSI, %PV). Différences entre défaunés-faunés. Comparaison de nos résultas expérimentaux avec ceux de la synthèse bibliographique des données de la litérature. PDIN / UF

Figure 3 : Effet de la défaunation sur les flux duodénaux dAzote (non ammoniacal) gN/J. Comparaison entre les points expérimentaux ( ) et les données de la synthèse bibliographique ( ). Figure 4 : Effet de la défaunation sur les concentration en ammoniaque du rumen (NNH 3 ). Comparaison des points expérimentaux ( ) avec les données de la synthèse bibliographique( ) Y = X R 2 = 96.5 %, n=30 P<0.00

Figure 5 : Effet de la défaunation sur l excrétion d azote urinaire (gN/j) selon les quantités d azote ingérées. Différence entre les animaux défaunés–faunés. Comparaison des points expérimentaux ( ) avec les données de la synthèse bibliographique ( ) Figure 6 : Effet de la défaunation sur la digestibilité ruminale des fibres (DrNDF). Comparaison des points expérimentaux ( ) avec les données de la synthèse bibliographique( ) Y = X n=12, R 2 = 0.57, rsd =1.7, P<0.001 Y = 0.91 X ( n=18 R 2 = 0.98, rsd= 6.7, P<0.001)

Figure 7 : Effet de la défaunation sur le temps de rétention des particules (h) selon les quantités de MS ingérées (MSI%PV). Différence entre les animaux défaunés–faunés. Comparaison des points expérimentaux ( ) avec les données de la synthèse bibliographique( )

Figure 8 : Effet de la défaunation sur l indice de consommation (MS) selon la croissance (GMQ %PV). Différence entre les animaux défaunés–faunés. Comparaison des points expérimentaux ( ) avec les données de la synthèse bibliographique ( ).