Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

Table 4 Rumen fluid characteristics of Holstein cows fed total mixed diets containing monoculture bahiagrass baleage (MBB), bahiagrass-alfalfa baleage (BAB) and conventional corn silage (CCS) ¹

From: Evaluation of alfalfa inter-seeding effect on bahiagrass baleage fermentation and lactating Holstein performance

	Silage crop
Item	MBB	BAB	CCS	SE
pH	6.40^a	6.61^a	6.55^a	0.11
Lactate	0.02^a	0.03^a	0.05^a	0.01
Acetate	55.23^a	39.60^b	42.30^b	3.11
Propionate	13.69^a	9.20^b	11.83^ab	0.99
Butyrate	0.36^a	1.08^a	0.18^a	0.26
Isobutyrate	9.02^a	6.04^a	6.30^a	1.13
Valerate	17.90^a	10.15^a	14.06^a	2.54
Isovalerate	0.12^a	0.12^a	0.54^a	0.25
Total VFA	96.20^a	66.19^b	75.21^b	5.75
A:P²	4.08^ab	4.34^a	3.67^b	0.13

^{a, b, c}Means in a row with different superscripts differ significantly (P < 0.05).
¹Rumen fluid collected via rumenocentesis on d-42 prior to a.m. feeding (4 h fast).
²Acetate to propionate ratio.

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ISSN: 2049-1891

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