Concentrate containing calcium salts of fatty acids rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids can change rumen fermentation in grazing goats

Feeding goats with calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) can supply ruminants with lipids, with minimal effects on ruminal fermentation and fiber digestibility. However, there is a shortage of information on the effect of CSFA on characteristics of rumen fermentation in grassland goats. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the addition of CSFA to concentrate on the parameters of rumen fermentation of grazing goats. Five rumen cannulatcd goats were distributed in a Latin square 5x5 design treatments: 0%, 1.5%. 3.0%, 4.5% and 6.0% CSFA. The pH, ammonia N and volatile fatty acids (WA) content were analyzed in the ruminal fluid at 0.2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after concentrate supplementation. The pH and ammonia N concentration showed a linear effect with the addition of CSFA. There was no effect observed for the WA molar concentration after grazing goats were fed with the experimental diet. In conclusion, further research is needed to investigate the addition of CSFA to goat diets because there is evidence that CSFA increases ruminal pH and decreases excess ruminal ammonia without changing the WA concentration in the rumen fluid.