Table 2. Ruminal characteristics in beef steers fed TMR and whey protein (WP)
Item | Treatment1) | SEM2) | p-value3) |
Control | WP |
pH | 6.52 | 6.47 | 0.05 | 0.596 |
Total VFA (mmol) | 80.58 | 91.29 | 11.22 | 0.222 |
VFA concentration |
Acetate (mmol) | 63.72 | 59.03 | 1.35 | 0.152 |
Propionate (mmol) | 21.25 | 23.41 | 1.05 | 0.294 |
Butyrate (mmol) | 13.07 | 12.60 | 0.53 | 0.674 |
Valerate (mmol) | 1.28a | 1.68b | 0.09 | 0.004 |
Isovalerate (mmol) | 1.92a | 3.29b | 0.28 | 0.004 |
Acetate : propionate | 3.03 | 2.57 | 0.17 | 0.170 |
Control, TMR 9 kg/d; WP, control with whey protein 400 g/d.
Standard error of mean.
p-values were calculated by paired t-test.
Means in each row with different superscripts are significantly different (p < 0.05).
TMR, total mixed ration; VFA, volatile fatty acids.