Comparisons of Ramie and Corn Stover Silages: Effects on Chewing Activity, Rumen Fermentation, Microbiota and Methane Emissions in Goats
Xu Tian,
Cheng Gao,
Zhengping Hou,
Rong Wang,
Xiumin Zhang,
Qiushuang Li,
Zhongshan Wei,
Duanqin Wu,
Min Wang
Affiliations
Xu Tian
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Cheng Gao
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Zhengping Hou
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Rong Wang
Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Hunan Research Center of Livestock & Poultry Sciences, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Xiumin Zhang
Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Hunan Research Center of Livestock & Poultry Sciences, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Qiushuang Li
Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Hunan Research Center of Livestock & Poultry Sciences, South-Central Experimental Station of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Zhongshan Wei
Institute of Hunan Animal and Veterinary Science, Changsha 410131, China
Duanqin Wu
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
Min Wang
Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, China
The study aimed to investigate the nutritional value of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) silage, and its consequences for chewing activity, rumen fermentation, and enteric methane (CH4) emissions in goats, by comparing it with corn stover (CS) silage. An in vitro ruminal experiment was firstly performed to investigate the substrate degradation and fermentation of CS and ramie silage. The ramie silage diet was formulated by replacing 60% of CS silage with ramie silage (dry matter (DM) basis). Eight female Xiangdong Black goats (a local breed in Southern China, 1 to 1.2 years of age) with BW of 21.0 ± 1.05 kg were used for this experiment and were randomly assigned to either one of the two dietary treatments in a cross-over design. The ramie silage had higher crude protein (CP) and ash content and lower hemicellulose content, together with decreased (p p p > 0.05), decreased (p p p p 4 concentration and enteric CH4 emissions (p p > 0.05) the population of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi; it increased the 16S rRNA gene copies of Ruminococcus flavefaciens (p p Lawsonibacter, Sedimentibacter, Saccharofermentans, Sediminibacterium, and Bifidobacterium (p 4 emissions in ruminants.
