Influence of physical form of the ration on ruminal ingesta and ruminal fermentation in lactating cows fed 12 times daily
1989
Noergaard, P. (Kgl. Veterinaer- og Landbohoejskole, Koebenhavn (Denmark). Dept. of Animal Nutrition)
The effect of the content of long straw (LS) in the ration on the rumen contents and rumen fermentation was investigated in a study with 3 lactating cows, two 3x3 Latin square blocks with three levels of long straw (LS): 4%, 10% and 20%. The daily rations were composed of pelleted feed and LS, their dry matter content was 16 kg, and 1/12 was fed restrictively every second hour. The ingredient composition, chemical composition, and the energy value of the rations were nearly identical. The decrease in the content of LS from 20% to 4% resulted in a significantly linear reduction in total content of ruminal ingesta (p less than 0.05), ruminal liquid (p less than 0.04), flowing layer ingesta (p less than 0.04), flowing layer DM percentage (p less than 0.02), and in an increased DM percentage in the non-flowing layer ingesta (p less than 0.001). The decreasing content of LS caused a significant linear decrease in pH from 6.1 to 5.8 (p less than 0.03) and a decrease in the in-sacco disappearence of barley straw (p less than 0.02). The concentration of ammonia and the proportions of butyrate (p less than 0.006) and valerate (p less than 0.03) increased significantly with decreasing LS content.
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