Table 2.
Ruminal fermentation parameters of CON 1 and TR 2 groups.
| Item | CON | TR | SEM | P-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.32 | 6.04 | 0.06 | 0.011 |
| Lactate (mmol/L) | 0.22 | 0.28 | 0.05 | 0.524 |
| Acetate (mmol/L) | 69.39 | 63.11 | 1.90 | 0.104 |
| Propionate (mmol/L) | 30.14 | 35.33 | 1.02 | 0.002 |
| Isobutyrate (mmol/L) | 0.63 | 0.27 | 0.11 | 0.072 |
| Butyrate (mmol/L) | 13.61 | 11.15 | 0.66 | 0.074 |
| Isovalerate (mmol/L) | 1.55 | 1.04 | 0.10 | 0.011 |
| Valerate (mmol/L) | 1.84 | 2.73 | 0.17 | 0.007 |
| Total VFA 3 (mmol/L) | 117.16 | 113.63 | 2.75 | 0.520 |
| A: P 4 | 2.33 | 1.79 | 0.09 | 0.001 |
| Acetate (%) | 59.21 | 55.46 | 0.68 | 0.005 |
| Propionate (%) | 25.76 | 31.25 | 0.81 | <0.001 |
| Butyrate (%) | 11.58 | 9.68 | 0.40 | 0.018 |
1 CON (control group) = dairy cows fed total mixed ration (TMR). 2 TR (treatment group) = dairy cows fed pelleted high-starch diet. 3 VFA = volatile fatty acid. 4 A: P = the ratio of acetate to propionate.