The effects of sodium and calcium salts of malic acid on growth performance, rumen pH, protozoa number, NH3-
N level and volatile fatty acid (VFA) ratio and carcass yield in Akkaraman lambs fed alfalfa hay either restricted or ad-libitum were
investigated. In a completely randomized design experiment, treatments were arranged at 2x2 factorial fashion: two forage levels (100
g/d or ad-libitum) and two malate levels (0 or 5 g/d), which were tested in 32 male lambs (3-4 months of age, 23.28±1.27 kg BW).
Adaptation to feeding lasted 10 days; while sampling period lasted for 60 days. Growth performance, feed intake, slaughter and carcass
weight were not affected by the treatments. A significant change was found in ruminal pH by forage feding level over time. At the
beginning of the experiment the amount of acetic acid was increased by ad-libitum alfalfa hay consumption and malate addition but
this effect was disappeared end of the trial. Rumen propionic acid, NH3-N concentration and protozoa number were not affected by the
treatments but they changed by the sampling time. There was alfalfa hay level x malate supplementation x sampling time interaction
effect on butyric acid concentration. In conclusion, malate addition did not improve growth rate and carcass yield of lambs but it
affected ruminal acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in lambs fed alfalfa ad-libitum.
Birincil Dil | İngilizce |
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Bölüm | Araştırma Makalesi |
Yazarlar | |
Yayımlanma Tarihi | 31 Aralık 2018 |
Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2019Cilt: 66 Sayı: 1 |