Table 3.

Nutrient balance, body weight change and rumen fermentation parameters in kids fed LS based rations.

Item	LS	LSTMR	ALS	ALSTMR
Nutrient balance, g/day
Nitrogen	−1.4 ± 0.23	1.5 ± 0.34	2.0 ± 0.12	2.3 ± 0.25
Calcium	0.96 ± 0.16	1.4 ± 0.35	0.92 ± 0.43	1.9 ± 0.24
Phosphorus**	0.30 ± 0.05a	0.79 ± 0.11b	0.37 ± 0.05ab	0.58 ± 0.05b
Body weight change
Initial body weight, kg	17.6 ± 2.1	17.0 ± 1.45	18.4 ± 1.4	17.0 ± 2.1
Final body weight, kg	16.7 ± 2.1	18.2 ± 1.4	19.7 ± 1.4	18.6 ± 2.1
Growth rate**, g/day	−33.8 ± 6.0a	40.0 ± 2.3b	46.9 ± 4.8bc	58.6 ± 2.4c
Rumen fermentation parameters, per 100 mL SRL
pH*	7.3 ± 0.25b	6.9 ± 0.3ab	7.2 ± 0.49b	6.5 ± 0.37a
TVFA**, m.eq	7.3 ± 0.97a	9.5 ± 0.69b	8.0 ± 1.1ab	9.8 ± 1.6b
Total nitrogen**, mg	68.8 ± 6.6a	71.5 ± 4.6a	92.8 ± 4.2b	88.9 ± 1.4b
Ammonical nitrogen**, mg	6.7 ± 0.39a	7.8 ± 1.1ab	10.1 ± 1.5c	9.5 ± 0.78bc

LS = lentil straw; LSTMR = LS based total mixed ration; ALS = ammoniated LS; ALSTMR = ALS based total mixed ration; SRL = strained rumen liquor; TVFA = total volatile fatty acids.

^a,b,c Within a row, means without a common uppercase superscript differ. *: P < 0.05 or **: P < 0.01.