Table 2.
Rumen fermentation parameters, body weight, fecal N, and BUN in heifers grazing at mid-dry and wet season (pregnant and lactating, respectively).
| Mid-Dry Season | Wet Season | SEM | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body weight (Kg) | 399 | 389 | 7.06 | 0.168 |
| Fecal N % | 0.97 | 2.12 | 0.03 | 0.001 |
| Ammonia-N mg/L | 11.9 | 70.2 | 2.34 | 0.001 |
| BUN mg/100 mL | 2.79 | 9.04 | 0.40 | 0.001 |
| Total VFA mM | 84.0 | 64.2 | 3.15 | 0.001 |
| Fatty acid % | ||||
| Acetate | 75.6 | 75.8 | 0.16 | 0.601 |
| Propionate | 14.1 | 12.0 | 0.13 | 0.001 |
| Butyrate | 8.99 | 9.37 | 0.07 | 0.085 |
| iso-Butyrate | 0.48 | 0.89 | 0.03 | 0.001 |
| Valerate | 0.34 | 0.64 | 0.01 | 0.001 |
| iso-Valerate | 0.44 | 1.09 | 0.03 | 0.001 |
| Acetic:Propionic ratio | 5.38 | 6.18 | 0.06 | 0.001 |