Effect of sugar-beet pulp supplementation on fiber degradation of grass hay in the rumen of goats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four levels (0, 10, 20, 40 %) of sugar-beet pulp (SB pulp) supplementation to Italian ryegrass hay (IRG hay) on the fiber degradability of IRG hay in the rumen of goats. The following results were obtained: Degradabilities of DM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose of IRG hay in the rumen increased significantly (p<0.05) by 10 % level supplementation of SE pulp to IRG hay. This was probably due to the increased numbers (p<0.05) of total viable bacteria, pectin-fermenting, xylan-fermenting and cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen in the increased supply of degradable pectic substances and hemicellulose at 10% level supplementation of SE pulp pectin. In 40% supplementation of SE pulp, ruminal pH was lowered by the fermentation of increased amount of molasses from SB pulp, resulting in the depression of growth of fiber fermenting bacteria and hence the decrease in degradabilities of cell wall fractions. It was suggested from this study that the sugar-beet pulp supplementation to forages at the level of 10% in the total diet increased fiber degradation of forage in the rumen of goats.