The alfalfa is widespread in large areas of goat production system in Argentina.
However,this forage is associated with the problem of frothy bloat ruminants
when the mechanism for the eructation of rumen gas is inhibited or impaired and gas production exceeds the animal's ability to expel it.
Saponins,soluble protein nitrogen, and hemicelluloses of alfalfa are supposed to be the primary foaming agents
However,the bloat potential of le-gumes also depends on their digestibility by rumen bacteria
The changes in bacterial population associated with bloat have been described by the culture independent methods in cattle grazing wheat forage
To our knowledge, no study so far has monitored the influence of bloat-causing legumes on the digestive microbiome of goats.
This is the first study dealing with in vivo effect of fresh alfalfa forage on ruminal bacterial population of cannulated Creole goats.