Table 3 Effects of dietary supplementation with different concentrations of molasses on rumen fermentation indices of male Nubian goat kids

Ruminal pH

6.48 ^a ± 0.1

6.46 ^a ± 0.1

6.39 ^b ± 0.1

6.30 ^b ± 0.2

***

NS

NS

VFAs (mmol/L)

77.7 ^b ± 23

85.6 ^a ± 19

81.9 ^a ± 15

72.5 ^b ± 17.6

*

***

NS

NH₃ (mg/dL)

8.7 ± 4.7

10.5 ± 5.1

8.8 ± 4.5

7.6 ± 4.2

NS

*

**

Total protozoa count (×10⁴/mL)

24.5 ± 4.5

26.8 ± 6.3

26.3 ± 4.9

26 ± 4.3

NS

NS

NS

Osmolality (mOsmol/kg)

260 ^b ± 38

289 ^a ± 27

248 ^c ± 35

242 ^c ± 38

***

NS

NS

Ruminal -[Na⁺] (mmol/L)

155 ± 9

158 ± 8

154 ± 11

154 ± 11

NS

NS

NS

Ruminal -[K⁺] (mmol/L)

29.8 ± 5.9

32.3 ± 5.9

31.8 ± 5

31.9 ± 6.1

NS

**

NS

Ruminal -[Cl⁻] (mmol/L)

106.6 ^b ± 4.8

108 ^b ± 3.8

110.7 ^a ± 4.7

109.6 ^a ± 4.6

**

NS

NS

Ruminal-[SID₃] (mmol/L)

78.5 ± 14.6

82.2 ± 12

74.9 ± 12

75.7 ± 13

NS

NS

NS