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Effects of corn straw or mixed forage diet on rumen fermentation parameters of lactating cows using a wireless data logger
Author(s) -
Qin Chunfu,
Bu Dengpan,
Sun Peng,
Zhao Xiaowei,
Zhang Peihua,
Wang Jiaqi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.12616
Subject(s) - rumen , forage , fermentation , neutral detergent fiber , dry matter , straw , zoology , chemistry , rumination , biology , food science , agronomy , cognition , neuroscience
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different forage types on rumen fermentation parameters and profiles using a wireless data logger. Eight lactating cows were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments with a low forage diet with corn straw (CS) or a high forage diet with mixed forage (MF) as the forage source, respectively. Dietary physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content was 11.3% greater in CS. Dry matter intake and milk fatty acid content decreased upon CS ( P < 0.05). Ruminal pH, temperature and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) were monitored for 14 weeks. The CS group had significantly higher pH but lower temperature and ORP compared to MF ( P < 0.01). With the CS diet regime, pH at the time before morning feeding, rumination and post‐ingestion were significantly higher than those in the MF group ( P < 0.05). However, times with the ruminal pH below 6.0 and 5.8 were significantly reduced ( P < 0.05), whereas ruminal pH below 5.6 tended to be lower ( P = 0.07). The results indicated that rumen fermentation parameters were affected by forage types and dietary peNDF content might be predominant in ruminal pH regulation.