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.