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1.
Physical properties of the digesta vary along the ruminant digestive tract. They also vary within the forestomach, leading to varying degrees of rumen contents stratification in ‘moose‐type’ (browsing) and ‘cattle‐type’ (intermediate and grazing) ruminants. We investigated the dry matter concentration (DM) and the mean digesta particle size (MPS) within the forestomach and along the digestive tract in 10 goats fed grass hay or dried browse after a standardized 12‐h fast, euthanasia and freezing in the natural position. In all animals, irrespective of diet, DM showed a peak in the omasum and an increase from caecum via colon towards the faeces and a decrease in MPS between the reticulum and the omasum. Both patterns are typical for ruminants in general. In the forestomach, there was little systematic difference between more cranial and more caudal locations (‘horizontal stratification’), with the possible exception of large particle segregation in the dorsal rumen blindsac on the grass diet. In contrast, the typical (vertical) contents stratification was evident for DM (with drier contents dorsally) and, to a lower degree, for MPS (with larger particles dorsally). Although evident in both groups, this stratification was more pronounced on the grass diet. The results support the interpretation that differences in rumen contents stratification between ruminants are mainly an effect of species‐specific physiology, but can be enhanced due to the diet consumed.  相似文献   

2.
In an experiment to determine the effects of mastication and microbial contamination on in situ forage disappearance, samples of masticated (M) or nonmasticated alfalfa hay (AH), orchardgrass hay (OGH) and bermudagrass hay (BGH) were incubated in the rumen of two steers for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 h. Using diaminopimelic acid as a marker, microbial DM and CP contamination ranged from 10.3 to 22.3% and 46.3 to 95.3% of residual DM and CP, respectively. Percentage contamination was influenced by both time of incubation and forage treatment (P less than .001). Corrected DM and CP disappearances (DMD and CPD) were higher than apparent disappearances (P less than .001). Maximal NDF and ADF disappearances (NDFD and ADFD) obtained at 96 h were 58.2, 52.4; 62.7, 62.3 and 56.7, 52.6% for AH, OGH and BGH, respectively. Lag times (h) for corrected DMD and CPD were shorter (at least P less than .05) than for apparent disappearances, except for corrected CPD of AH. There were no differences (P greater than .10) in lag time of NDFD or ADFD among forages. Rates of disappearance (%/h) of corrected DMD and CPD were faster (at least P less than .01) than for apparent disappearances. The total quantity of microbial CP (mg CP/g DM) associated with residues varied with time depending on forage type (P less than .001). There was a significant relationship between the quantity of microbial CP contamination and the extent of disappearance. Masticated forages followed trends similar to those of nonmasticated forages, but the effect of mastication was not consistent. Results support the need for microbial correction of in situ forage residues.  相似文献   

3.
We examined the changes in the physical properties of the digesta mat over a period of 24 h after cessation of feeding, in sheep that had been maintained on pasture or fed chaffed lucerne hay. The dry matter content of the digesta mat declined at similar rates in both dietary groups, although it was generally higher in sheep fed lucerne. Median particle size declined in the digesta mats of both dietary groups at similar rates in samples taken after 8 h, but median particle size was significantly greater in sheep fed chopped lucerne hay than in those fed grass. Thus, particles were not reduced to a common size suggesting that factors in addition to particle size governed the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat. The relationship between the elastic and loss moduli was of a consistent pattern in all samples taken from the rumen mat indicating that it behaved as a weak gel. The elastic and loss moduli of the digesta mats of sheep that had been fed pasture or chopped lucerne hay converged to similar values after 12 h and declined broadly at similar rates after this. The relationship between these two moduli and the dry matter content of the rumen mat were of similar curvilinear form for sheep on both diets. These findings suggest that the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat is more likely to be governed by its composite behaviour than by the size of the constituent particles.  相似文献   

4.
Four nonlactating Holstein dairy cows (means +/- SD BW = 692 +/- 49 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment to determine changes in distribution of particles within the ruminoreticulum (RR) and total digestive tract in cattle fed a forage-based diet at four intake levels. Relationships between chewing activities and rates of particle breakdown, passage, and digestion were also determined. Percentage of large particles increased linearly in the dorsal rumen (P = .001), ventral rumen (P = .004), reticulum (P = .007), duodenum (P = .007), and feces (P = .006) as DMI increased. Particles of sizes less than or equal to 2,000 microns, eligible to pass from the RR, constituted 60 to 92% of particle DM in the RR. Increased feed intake resulted in a longer (P = .003) eating but a shorter (P = .008) ruminating time per kilogram of DM intake, whereas total chewing time per kilogram of DMI was not affected (P = .12). Passage rate constants of NDF from the RR increased (P = .03) with intake. There was no change (P = .87) in the rate constant for particle breakdown in the dorsal rumen with increased intake. Neither fractional passage rate of NDF nor the rate constant for particle breakdown was related to time spent eating (P + .12; P = .34) or time spent ruminating (P = .11; P = .55). It was concluded that rate of passage of small particles from the RR was a determinant of passage from the RR and that changes in rates of passage and breakdown of particles could only be partially explained by changes in chewing activities.  相似文献   

5.
选择3只安装有瘤胃和十二指肠瘘管的新疆哈萨克公羊为试验动物,采用尼龙袋法比较精油提取前后薰衣草在瘤胃内培养6、12、24、36、48、72 h干物质(DM)与粗蛋白质(CP)的降解特性。结果表明,精油提取前后薰衣草中CP、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维含量变化差异较小。精油提取后,薰衣草DM和CP瘤胃消失率出现显著下降(P<0.05);尽管精油提取前后瘤胃动态降解参数a和b值差异不显著(P>0.05),但精油提取后降解速率c值和有效降解率显著下降(P<0.05),这或许与精油提取后薰衣草细胞壁中香草酸、原儿茶酸和阿魏酸在总酚酸中的比例分别升高26.5%、33.3%和24.8%有关。总之,就瘤胃降解率而言,精油提取前的薰衣草具有更高的饲用价值。  相似文献   

6.
为研究不同饲草对反刍动物甲烷(CH4)排放量的影响,利用虚拟仪器技术设计的体外发酵产气自动记录系统,结合气相色谱仪,测定了奶牛业常用饲草体外发酵72 h后的发酵指标。结果表明:发酵72 h后,供试饲草的CH4产量介于56.85～74.63 mL.g-1DMloss,最高的为玉米(Zea mays L.)秸秆,最低的为苜蓿(Medicagosativa L.)干草Ⅰ。体外发酵程度由高到低依次为青贮玉米、苜蓿干草Ⅰ、苜蓿干草Ⅱ、羊草(Leymus chinensis T.)干草、苜蓿茎秆、玉米秸秆。各饲草的产气动态均呈指数函数变化,趋势相似,在0～24 h内累计产气量迅速增加,24～36 h内增长速率渐缓,36 h以后速率趋于平缓。各饲草的CH4产量与其中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)含量成显著正相关(P<0.05),与其粗蛋白(CP)含量成极显著负相关(P<0.01);通过逐步回归分析,建立常规养分含量与CH4产量的回归模型:PCH4=60.02-0.91×CP+0.44×ADF(R2=0.96)。综上表明,饲草的CH4产量与其品质有关,优质饲草体外发酵程度高,CH4产量低,从而提高饲料利用率、减少温室效应,而劣质饲草则相反。  相似文献   

7.
The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of rumen digesta flow parameters on effective degradability (EDG) and microbial nitrogen (MBN) yield in sheep fed diets of identical provision of both metabolizable energy and rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN). Ruminal degradation parameters of early‐harvested perennial ryegrass hay (EH), late‐harvested perennial ryegrasses hay (LH) and winter sown barley straw (BS) were determined by a nylon bag technique. Subsequently, three experimental diets (EHD, LHD and BSD) were formulated using the tested forages, sucrose and urea as supplements. An in vivo feeding study was conducted using four rumen cannulated sheep in a partial Latin square design. Digestibility, rate constants of rumen particle breakdown and passage, ruminal fermentation parameters and MBN supply to the small intestine were determined. Animals thoroughly consumed the forages fed at a restricted level. Digestion coefficients were greater for EHD than for LHD and were lowest for BSD (P < 0.05). The rate constant of large particle breakdown was 4.3, 5.9 and 6.7 %/h, respectively, and small particle passage was 5.3, 4.7 and 6.3 %/h for EHD, LHD and BSD, respectively. The estimates differed (P < 0.05) between the diets. The overall passage rate constant of total rumen particles was estimated to be higher for BSD than that for EHD or LHD (P < 0.05). Ruminal fermentation parameters were unaffected by dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Intake levels of rumen degradable organic matter (RDOM) and RDN were estimated to be greater for LHD than that for EHD or BSD (P < 0.05). Although dietary arrangements were made to give identical microbial efficiency, the estimated value was higher for EHD than that for LHD or BSD (P < 0.05); and the MBN yield for BSD was estimated to be lower than that for EHD or LHD (P < 0.05). Rumen kinetic parameters of degradation and particle flow of forage affected EDG values and MBN yield from forage‐related RDN intake, although those had little effect on the efficiency of MBN yield from forage‐related RDOM intake.  相似文献   

8.
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of six levels of orchardgrass hay (GH) proportion (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% of dry matter) in finely chopped corn silage (CS)‐based diets on digesta kinetics of CS and GH in the rumen. Six non‐lactating, rumen‐cannulated Holstein cows were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Ruminal digesta kinetics was measured by ruminal dosing of feed particle markers (dysprosium for CS, erbium for GH) followed by fecal sampling. The increase of GH proportion had a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) on total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber. The proportion of GH did not affect the particle size distribution of rumen digesta, total weight of dry matter or NDF in the rumen. The rates of large particle size reduction in the rumen for CS tended to increase linearly with increasing GH proportion (P = 0.077). A quadratic effect (P < 0.05) was found with increasing the GH proportion for the ruminal passage rate of small GH particles, but not for CS particles. The results suggested that associative effects between CS and GH could be generated on rumen digesta kinetics when cows were fed a CS‐based diet with an increased proportion of GH.  相似文献   

9.
Changes in digesta dry matter (DM) and mean digesta particle size (MPS) along the gastrointestinal tract are well known in ruminants, but not in camelids. We collected digesta from the dorsal (d) and ventral (v) first forestomach compartment (C1), the second forestomach compartment (C2), three proximal segments and the subsequent glandular part of the third compartment (C3A‐D), the caecum and the faeces twelve llamas (Lama glama). DM analysis indicates the presence of digesta stratification in the C1, the presence of fluid in the C2 to facilitate the sorting function of this compartment, the fluid‐absorbing function of the proximal parts of the C3, the secretion of enzymes and digestive acids in the C3D, and the water‐resorbing function of the lower intestinal tract. These findings illustrate the functional resemblance between the gastrointestinal tract of camelids and cattle‐like ruminants (C1 equivalent to the rumen with stratified contents, C2 to the reticulum, C3A/B/C to the omasum and C3D to the abomasum). MPS analysis revealed a progressive reduction in MPS from the C1 to the distal C3. This gradual transition is different from the clear‐cut threshold in ruminants between the reticulum and the omasum and had so far only been described in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius). These findings indicate that regardless of the convergent property of rumination and resemblance of general mechanisms involved in contents stratification and particle sorting, differences between ruminants and camelids exist that could be interpreted as a more efficient functionality of the ruminant forestomach.  相似文献   

10.
选用安有永久瘤胃瘘管黄淮山羊6只,随机分为3组,分别饲喂3种不同阴阳离子平衡（A组332mEq／kgDM、B组418mEq／kgDM、C组496mEq／kgDM）的日粮,研究日粮阴阳离子平衡对瘤胃消化代谢的影响。结果表明：提高日粮阴阳离子水平可以有效提高瘤胃液的pH值,在饲喂后8h差异显著（P〈0．05）;青干草DM、CF的降解率在瘤胃内随时间的增加而增加,在同一时间段试验B组较高,试验A组最低,且在12h、24h、48h时组间差异显著（P〈0．05）。CF的降解率趋势与DM相同,组间差异显著（P〈0．05）。  相似文献   

11.
Both quantity and quality of forages are important in dry season feeding. Eight Thai native beef bulls were arranged in a Completely randomized design to evaluate dwarf Napier namely Sweet grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mahasarakham) preserved as silage or hay on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The animals were fed with forage ad libitum supplemented with concentrate mixture at 1.0% of BW for 21 days; data were collected during the last 7 days. The results showed that there were differences (P?<?0.05) between treatments in dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, and ruminal pH, in which hay feeding gave enhanced feed intake and more favorable ruminal pH. Nevertheless, mean ruminal ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), proportion of VFAs, bacterial and protozoal population, and blood urea nitrogen were similar (P?>?0.05) in animals fed silage and hay. Sweet grass is better preserved as hay rather than silage.  相似文献   

12.
Four experiments were conducted with dairy cattle to determine the effects of initial feed particle size and moisture content on particle size of ingested masticates. Three mature Holstein cows were used in either latin square or Youden square designs. Samples of masticated and ingested boli were collected at the cardiac opening through a ruminal fistula between 0 and 5, 5 and 10 and 10 and 15 min after meal initiation. In Exp. 1, masticate log mean particle sizes (LMPS) (ln microns, log normal distribution) were 3.50, 3.53 and 3.50 for corn silage, fine-chopped alfalfa haylage and coarse-chopped alfalfa haylage, respectively. In Exp. 2, boli LMPS for ground, chopped and long alfalfa hay were 3.11, 3.76 and 4.09, respectively. Boli LMPS in Exp. 3 for ground, chopped and long timothy hay were 2.93, 3.12 and 3.03, respectively. Exp. 4 compared the effect of addition of water to produce 30%, 47%, 64% and 82% DM in chopped alfalfa hay. Boli LMPS were 3.66, 3.56, 3.64 and 3.68 for the respective alfalfa hay DM contents. Feed LMPS was not reduced during mastication in Exp. 4, nor were there differences in LMPS due to time after feeding. Boli LMPS was affected by feed particle size of alfalfa hay, but there was no effect of feed particle size on masticate particle size in timothy hay. The magnitude of particle size reduction during mastication appears to be dependent on forage type and is not dependent totally on initial feed particle size and DM content of forages.  相似文献   

13.
The influence of the replacement of cereals by sugar beet in the rations was tested with 6 calves supplied with re-entrant duodenal or ruminal cannulae in 4 measuring periods between their 11th and 17th weeks of life. The control ration (A) consisted of 60% mixed feed, 20% hay and 20% wilted silage, the test ration (B) consisted of 30% mixed feed, 33% sugar beet, 20% hay and 17% wilted silage. A contained 15% crude protein, 32% starch and 2% sugar, B in the same sequence 14, 12 and 24% (amounts in % of DM). The following results were achieved: The functional development of the rumen is largely completed three weeks after weaning. There were no qualitative changes between the 11th and 17th weeks of life. The fermentation of organic matter in the rumen (50...52%) and bacterial protein yield (2.4...2.6 g N per 100 g digestible organic matter) corresponded to that of adult ruminants. The partial replacement of cereals by sugar beet resulted in a significant increase of the molar butyric acid quota to 20.8% (B) in comparison to 13% (A) with the same level of total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, the decrease of the quota of acetic acid to 61.4% (B) in contrast to 73.5% (A) and the reduction of the ruminal NH3 concentration after feeding. The feeding of sugar beets had a positive influence on the passage of starch in the duodenum. The DM-degradation of straw in polyamide bags was also positively influenced. 62.6% (A) and 73.9% (B) of the feed N were degraded in the forestomachs. Per kg DM intake 29.8 g (A) and 28.0 g (B) non-ammonia-N (NAN) were detected at the duodenum. 54% (A) and 64% (B) of NAN consisted of bacteria N. In contrast to adult ruminants at nutrition level 1 (maintenance) a considerable net influx of endogenous N into the rumen was to be observed at a crude protein concentration in the feed of 14 to 15% (in the DM) in both groups. Accordingly, the minimum protein content of the ration (in the DM) should be above 15% in the rearing range studied.  相似文献   

14.
Twenty growing Small East African goats were used to determine the effects of feeding sun-dried leaves of the browse forages Berchemia discolor and Zizyphus mucronata as supplements to low-quality basal diet, Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay, on voluntary feed intake (VFI), digestibility and growth performance. The grass hay and maize bran were used as a control. The dried leaves were then included at the rates of 15% and 30% of the dry matter intake (DMI). Berchemia discolor had the highest crude protein (CP) content of 195.5 g/kg DM, while Z. mucronata had CP content of 169.5 g/kg DM. The grass hay had the lowest CP content of 50.9 g/kg DM. The browse forages had low fibre content [Neutral detergent fibre (NDF); 257.9-369.5 g/kg DM], while the grass hay had high fibre content (NDF; 713.1 g/kg DM). Goats in the groups supplemented with either of the browse forages had higher total DMI, nitrogen (N) intake and retention and live-weight gains than those in the control diet group. The digestibility of DM and organic matter (OM) was not affected by supplementation, but the CP digestibility increased with supplementation. The use of the browse forages as supplements for goats fed on poor-quality basal diets would enhance the performance of the animals.  相似文献   

15.
Optimizing the amino acid (AA) profile of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) can positively affect the amount of milk protein. This study was conducted to improve knowledge regarding the AA profile of rumen undegradable protein from corn stover, rice straw and alfalfa hay as well as the total mixed ratio diets (TMR) based on one of them as forage source [forage‐to‐concentrate ratio of 45:55 (30% of corn stover (CS), 30% of rice straw (RS), 23% of alfalfa hay (AH) and dry matter basis)]. The other ingredients in the three TMR diets were similar. The RUP of all the forages and diets was estimated by incubation for 16 hr in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated lactating cows. All residues were corrected for microbial colonization, which was necessary in determining the AA composition of RUP from feed samples using in situ method. Compared with their original AA composition, the AA pattern of forages and forage‐based diets changed drastically after rumen exposure. In addition, the extent of ruminal degradation of analysed AA was not constant among the forages. The greatest individual AA degradability of alfalfa hay and corn stover was Pro, but was His of rice straw. A remarkable difference was observed between microbial attachment corrected and uncorrected AA profiles of RUP, except for alfalfa hay and His in the three forages and TMR diets. The ruminal AA degradability of cereal straws was altered compared with alfalfa hay but not for the TMR diets. In summary, the AA composition of forages and TMR‐based diets changed significantly after ruminal exposure, indicating that the original AA profiles of the feed cannot represent its AA composition of RUP. The AA profile of RUP and ruminal AA degradability for corn stover and rice straw contributed to missing information in the field.  相似文献   

16.
本试验旨在研究针茅草的不同加工方式对绵羊采食、消化及瘤胃内环境的影响。选用体重[(45±2)kg]、年龄(1.5~2.0岁)相近安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的乌珠穆沁羯羊48只,随机分为4组,每组12只,分析干草、草颗粒、草块、草粉4种加工方式的针茅草对绵羊干物质采食量、表观消化率及瘤胃液pH及总氮、氨氮、总可利用氮、挥发性脂肪酸浓度的影响。预试期10 d,正试期7 d。结果表明:1)针茅草颗粒的干物质采食量及表观消化率显著高于其他组(P0.05)。2)与其他各组相比,针茅草颗粒组的绵羊食后1 h瘤胃液pH显著降低(P0.05),总氮、氨氮和总可利用氮浓度较高。3)草颗粒组的瘤胃液总挥发性脂肪酸浓度显著高于干草和草粉组(P0.05)。由此可见,针茅草颗粒的干物质采食量、表观消化率以及在绵羊瘤胃内的发酵指标均较优,是饲喂绵羊的最佳利用形态。  相似文献   

17.
旨在探究香蕉叶单宁对奶牛瘤胃降解特性的影响和评价香蕉叶的饲喂价值。样品分别为苜蓿干草组(100%的苜蓿干草)、苜蓿干草和香蕉叶混合组(50%苜蓿干草+50%香蕉叶)、香蕉叶组(100%香蕉叶)、苜蓿干草组(100%的苜蓿干草)+6%聚乙二醇(6% PEG)、苜蓿干草和香蕉叶混合组(50%苜蓿干草+50%香蕉叶)+6%聚乙二醇(6% PEG)、香蕉叶组(100%香蕉叶)+6%聚乙二醇(6% PEG)。测定样品中的营养成分含量,使用3头安装了瘤胃瘘管的荷斯坦奶牛进行半体内试验,用尼龙袋法测定上述样品在瘤胃内0、2、4、8、12、24、48、72 h的干物质(DM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)的降解率,得到各营养物质的动态降解参数。结果表明,相较于苜蓿干草,香蕉叶干物质和粗蛋白的快速降解部分、慢速降解部分、慢速降解部分的降解速率、有效降解率是显著低于苜蓿干草的(P<0.001),香蕉叶和苜蓿的NDF的有效降解率没有显著差异。添加了PEG后,香蕉叶和香蕉叶苜蓿混合组的快速降解部分和有效降解率显著高于未添加PEG的两组(P<0.001)。结果表明香蕉叶中的单宁会抑制香蕉叶的瘤胃降解率,因此在使用香蕉叶调制反刍动物的饲料时需要控制单宁的含量。  相似文献   

18.
The objective of this experiment was to quantify ruminal digestive processes that could help to identify factors limiting DMI when silages differing in grass maturity were fed to dairy cows. Four silages were harvested at 1-wk intervals from a primary growth of a timothy-meadow fescue sward, resulting in feeds with digestible OM content in DM (D-value) of 739, 730, 707, and 639 g/kg in the order of succeeding harvest date. Four ruminally cannulated dairy cows were given ad libitum access to these silages supplemented with 7 kg concentrate per day in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Rumen function was clearly affected by decreasing digestibility of silage fed. Passage rate of digestible NDF (DNDF) and indigestible NDF (INDF) increased, but it could not prevent the accumulation of DM, NDF, DNDF, and INDF into the rumen when silages of progressing grass maturity were fed. The greatest proportional increases in rumen pool were found in INDF and in medium particles (separated by wet sieving and measuring 315 to 2,500 microm). The passage of medium INDF particles decreased (P < 0.01) linearly (from 0.0365/h to 0.0281/h) with increasing maturity of grass ensiled, and it was slower than passage of small (80 to 315 microm) particles (on average 0.0524/h). Particle size reduction of large INDF particles to medium INDF particles was slower (P < 0.001) in the early cut silages (0.0216/h to 0.0484/h) but reduction of medium INDF particles to small INDF particles was faster (P < 0.001) in early cut silages (0.0436 to 0.0305). Passage of medium size particles and(or) rate of medium particle breakdown to small particles were potential intake-constraining properties of low digestibility forages, whereas large particle reduction to medium particles seemed not to be limiting. The increased feed intake of the early-cut silages was accompanied by decreased rumen fill, suggesting that rumen fill was not at least solely responsible for feed intake control.  相似文献   

19.
The effects of the feeding sequence of concentrate and forage, and of the feeding ratio of sake cake (SC) to grass hay (GH) on the ruminal mat characteristics and the entrapment effect for steamed flaked corn (SFC) by the mat were evaluated. Three non‐lactating, rumen‐cannulated Holstein cows were offered SC and GH using a ratio of 35:65 (SC35) or 65:35 (SC65). For SC35, SFC was fed at 1 h after or immediately before offering SC and GH, while for SC65, SFC was only fed at 1 h after. To estimate the degree of SFC entrapment in the ruminal mat, the location of SFC in the rumen and two types of mean retention time (MRT) were measured, that is, MRT for the SFC marker placed directly on the mat or taken orally. The ruminal mat was formed even when SC65 diet was consumed. The entrapment effect was not affected by the feeding sequence or the ratio. However, a more interesting finding is that the entrapment effect of the ruminal mat may not be as absolute as previously considered because of the large amount of SFC particles which precipitated at the bottom of the rumen 1 h after feeding.  相似文献   

20.
The purpose of this study was to determine the diurnal composition and concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and to determine VFA composition and concentration differences between stomach compartment 1 (C1) and caecum of alpacas fed grass and alfalfa hay. The study was divided into two experiments. In Experiment 1 (EXP 1), 10 male alpacas (3+ years old, 65 kg BW) were divided into two groups, housed in drylot pens, provided ad libitum water and fed alfalfa (AH) or grass hay (GH) for 30 days. The alpacas were slaughtered and the digestive tract collected, divided into sub‐tract sections, weighed and digesta sampled for pH, dry matter (DM) and NDF. Volatile fatty acid composition and concentration were determined on C1 and caecal material. Four adult male (3+ years old, 60 kg BW), C1 fistulated alpacas were housed in metabolism crates and divided into two forage groups for Experiment 2 (EXP 2). Alpacas were fed the forages as in EXP 1. Diurnal C1 VFA samples were drawn at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 h post‐feeding. There were no differences between forages for tract weight, C1 and caecum digesta DM or NDF. Differences were noted (p < 0.05) for pH between forages and sub‐tract site. Volatile fatty acids concentrations were different (p < 0.05) for forage and site, and total VFA was higher for AH than GH (110.6 and 79.1 mm ) and C1 than caecum (40.7 and 27.6 mm ). Proportion of VFA was significant (p < 0.05) for forage and site, C1 acetate highest for GH (84.8 vs. 74.0 mm ) and caecum acetate 83.7 and 76.2 mm for GH and AH respectively. These data demonstrate the level of VFA produced in C1 and the caecum of alpacas and the diurnal VFA patterns. Composition of VFA is similar to other ruminant species.  相似文献   

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