Table 5
In vitro ruminal fermentation metabolites of complete feed block (CFB)

AttributesComplete feed block
CFB1CFB2CFB3SEMSignificance (P value)
Total N (mg/dL)103b91.3c115a1.52< 0.001
Ammonia N (mg/dL)18.1b20.8a17.8b0.209< 0.001
TCA precipitable N (mg/dL)78.8a44.6c70.3b1.67< 0.001
Acetic acid (mM/L)29.8a33.6a17.9b1.73< 0.001
Propionic acid (mM/L)6.53a7.44a3.47b0.351< 0.001
Isobutyric acid (mM/L)0.95a1.00a0.37b0.029< 0.001
Butyric acid (mM/L)4.19b5.03a2.50c0.179< 0.001
Isovaleric acid (mM/L)0.89b1.09a0.29c0.029< 0.001
Valeric acid (mM/L)0.41b0.45b0.95a0.041< 0.001
Total VFA (mM/L)42.8a48.6a25.5b2.2< 0.001
Branch-chain fatty acids (mM/L)2.24b2.54a1.61c0.063< 0.001
Acetate: propionate ratio4.54b4.54b5.13a0.1480.047
Nonglucogenic: glucogenic VFA ratio4.594.644.820.1080.38