Table 8.
Mean ruminal pH, ammonia-N (mg/L), total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration (mmol/L), and individual VFA molar proportions (%) when Merino ewes were fed pelleted diets containing either 0% (control) or 42% hemp biomass (hemp)
| Parameter | Diet a | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | Hemp | ||
| Rumen pH | 6.21 (± 0.102) | 6.39 (± 0.102) | 0.256 |
| Ammonia-N | 255.00 (± 25.766) | 158.33 (± 25.766) | 0.024 |
| Total VFA | 88.43 (± 8.315) | 92.89 (± 8.315) | 0.713 |
| Acetic acid | 55.97 (± 1.384) | 59.38 (± 1.384) | 0.112 |
| Propionic acid | 25.99 (± 1.598) | 17.37 (± 1.598) | 0.003 |
| Butyric acid | 15.63 (± 1.400) | 20.32 (± 1.400) | 0.039 |
| Iso-butyric acid | 0.63 (± 0.078) | 0.57 (± 0.078) | 0.616 |
| Valeric acid | 1.37 (± 0.152) | 1.68 (± 0.152) | 0.181 |
| Iso-valeric acid | 0.31 (± 0.072) | 0.31 (± 0.072) | 0.996 |
| Hexanoic acid | 0.08 (± 0.0563) | 0.32 (± 0.0563) | 0.012 |
| Heptanoic acid | 0.01 (± 0.018) | 0.04 (± 0.018) | 0.317 |
| Pr:Ac 2 x Bu | 0.30 (± 0.023) | 0.18 (± 0.023) | 0.003 |
| Acetic:propionic | 2.20 (± 0.414) | 3.67 (± 0.414) | 0.031 |
aValues are least squares means ± standard errors of the least squares means.
Pr, propionic acid; Ac, acetic acid; Bu, butyric acid.