The ruminal fluid pH from cows offered the DGM diet was lower than the pH in ruminal fluid from cows offered the CON diet (Table 5). Dietary treatment did not influence the concentrations of NH3 or total Volatile fatty acids in ruminal fluid However, the ruminal fluid from cows offered the dried grape marc diet contained a lower molar percentage of acetic acid and a greater molar percentage of caproic acid than the ruminal fluid from cows offered the CON diet. No dietary effect was detected on the total number of ciliated protozoa or the numbers of Entodinia spp., and Dasytricha spp. in ruminal fluid. However, the numbers of Isotricha spp. were less in the ruminal fluid of cows offered the ensiled grape marc diet compared with the CON diet. Dietary treatment had no effect on the concentrations of H2, CH4, and CO2 in the rumen headspace.
Effect of feeding dairy cows on rumen fluid pH, concentrations of rumen fluid constituents, rumen protozoa, and composition of rumen headspace gas1