Effect of Six Feed Supplements on Ruminal Degradation Characteristics and Amino Acid Profile of Sheep

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of degradation characteristics of six feed supplements on ruminal volatile fatty acid and amino acid production and profile using three ruminally cannulated male sheep. The sheep were fed a concentrate to forage ratio of 35:65. The supplements came from Soybean Meal (SBM), Corn Meal (CM), Meat and Bone Meal (MBM), Feather Meal (FtM), Blood Meal (BM), and distillers Dried Gain with Soluble (DDGs). Sheep were fed at 6 h interval for 42 days. Ruminal parameters such as pH, NH4, temperature, NO3G, and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) were measured over a 12 h period after feeding. Concentrations of pH, NH4, and NO3G showed significant difference (p<0.001) across all dietary treatments. Sheep fed BM had higher pH (6.64 vs. 5.81), NH4 (262.31 vs. 1.95 ppm), and NO3G (559.71 vs. 77.40 ppm) values than did those fed CM whereas FtM showed intermediate values. The C2/ (C3+C4) ratio of the major VFA showed a significant difference (p<0.001). Ruminal profile (%) of the sum of amino acids measured was similar among feeds, except Asp, isoleucine, lysine, and proline, respectively. Specific first limiting AA was methionine for SBM while lysine was co-limiting for FtM and DDGs. In general, ruminal parameters were clearly influenced by dietary treatments, with a lower ruminal pH and a higher NH4 in BM than CM. Overall, the concentration of both total EAA and NEAA were similar among feeds, but numerically SBM had more EAA concentrations followed by CM, MBM, DDGs, BM, and FtM.