Table 6.
Effect of creep feeding from birth to the suckling period on volatile fatty acid in the rumen and feces of calves.
| Items | Control | Treatment | SEM 1 | p-Value 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rumen | ||||
| 3 months of age | ||||
| Acetate (%, total VFA) | 27.03 | 26.32 | 2.72 | 1.000 |
| Propionate (%, total VFA) | 23.88 | 23.24 | 3.96 | 0.343 |
| Butyrate (%, total VFA) | 5.65 | 7.03 | 0.76 | 1.000 |
| Total VFA (mM) | 56.56 | 56.59 | 7.21 | 0.486 |
| 6 months of age | ||||
| Acetate (%, total VFA) | 42.04 | 31.32 | 3.51 | 0.686 |
| Propionate (%, total VFA) | 38.21 | 24.10 | 3.98 | 0.686 |
| Butyrate (%, total VFA) | 9.78 | 7.82 | 1.22 | 0.886 |
| Total VFA (mM) | 90.03 | 63.24 | 8.27 | 0.686 |
| Feces | ||||
| 3 months of age | ||||
| Acetate (%, total VFA) | 21.22 | 31.16 | 3.41 | 0.686 |
| Propionate (%, total VFA) | 6.52 | 10.55 | 1.05 | 0.486 |
| Butyrate (%, total VFA) | 1.65 | 2.91 | 0.34 | 0.486 |
| Total VFA (mM) | 29.39 | 44.63 | 4.71 | 0.686 |
| 6 months of age | ||||
| Acetate (%, total VFA) | 37.53 | 18.36 | 3.78 | 0.343 |
| Propionate (%, total VFA) | 10.94 | 7.73 | 0.97 | 0.343 |
| Butyrate (%, total VFA) | 3.99 | 1.40 | 0.49 | 0.343 |
| Total VFA (mM) | 52.46 | 27.49 | 5.13 | 0.343 |
1 SEM: standard error of the mean. 2 p-Value: p-Values were calculated using the Wilcoxon rank sum test (non-parametric).