Effects of physically effective fiber on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, and digestibility in goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of physically effective NDF (peNDF) in goat diets containing alfalfa hay as the sole forage source on feed intake, chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, and nutrient digestibility. Four rumen-fistulated goats were fed different proportions of chopped and ground alfalfa hay in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Diets were chemically similar but varied in peNDF content: low, moderate low, moderate high, and high. Dietary peNDF content was determined using the Penn State Particle Separator with 2 sieves (8 and 19 mm) or 3 sieves (1.18, 8, and 19 mm). The dietary peNDF content ranged from 1.9 to 11.7% using the 2 sieves and from 15.2 to 20.0% using the 3 sieves. Increasing forage particle length increased intake of peNDF, but decreased DMI linearly (P = 0.05). Ruminating and total chewing time (min/d) were increased linearly (P = 0.001 and 0.007, respectively) with increased dietary peNDF, resulting in a linear reduction (P < 0.001) in the duration of time that ruminal pH was less than 5.8 (10.9, 9.0, 1.2, and 0.3 h/d, respectively). Increasing dietary peNDF tended to increase the molar proportion of propionate linearly (P = 0.08) and decrease the molar proportion of butyrate (P = 0.09), but did not affect total VFA concentration. Increasing dietary peNDF linearly decreased the apparent digestibility of OM, NDF, and ADF in the total tract (P = 0.009, 0.003, and 0.008, respectively). This study demonstrated that increasing the dietary peNDF contained in alfalfa hay forage stimulated chewing activity and improved ruminal pH status, but reduced nutrient intake and efficiency of feed use.