Table 2 The ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids concentrations in the rumen of beef steers fed different diets

Ruminal pH

6.74 ± 0.16^A

6.73 ± 0.17^A

6.22 ± 0.07^B

0.0008

Acetate (mmol/L)

35.68 ± 2.79^A

37.58 ± 5.15^A

52.89 ± 9.03^B

0.0066

Propionate (mmol/L)

26.08 ± 2.83

27.92 ± 9.41

28.46 ± 6.79

0.8787

Butyrate (mmol/L)

7.38 ± 0.68

7.11 ± 1.94

9.27 ± 1.70

0.1532

Iso-butyrate (mmol/L)

0.64 ± 0.10^a

0.59 ± 0.03^a

0.85 ± 0.20^b

0.0408

Iso-valerate (mmol/L)

1.40 ± 0.17^A

1.74 ± 0.51^A

2.75 ± 0.47^B

0.0033

Valerate (mmol/L)

0.61 ± 0.14

0.66 ± 0.20

0.91 ± 0.28

0.1627