Table 3.
Effect of betaine on rumen fermentation of dairy cows.
| Item | CON | Bet1 | Bet2 | SEM | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.55 | 6.54 | 6.42 | 0.028 | 0.346 |
| VFA (mmol/L) | 117.20 | 127.00 | 122.40 | 2.208 | 0.034 |
| Acetate (mmol/L) | 68.40 | 71.00 | 72.10 | 0.386 | <0.001 |
| Propionate (mmol/L) | 22.90 | 20.60 | 20.80 | 0.298 | 0.003 |
| Butyrate (mmol/L) | 11.69 | 15.33 | 13.47 | 0.282 | <0.001 |
| Acetate-to-propionate ratio | 3.00 | 3.46 | 3.48 | 0.057 | 0.012 |
| NH3-N (mg/dL) | 15.44 | 11.20 | 10.77 | 0.395 | <0.001 |
| MCP (mg/mL) | 6.55 | 8.69 | 7.21 | 0.469 | <0.001 |
Bet1= betaine 15 g/d per cow; Bet2 = betaine 30 g/d per cow; MCP = microbial protein; VFA = volatile fatty acid. In the same row, values with different letters mean significant difference (p < 0.05).