Effects of substituting alfalfa silage with whole plant quinoa silage on rumen fermentation characteristics and rumen microbial community of sheep <i>in vitro</i>.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of different ratios of quinoa-to-alfalfa silage on the fermentation parameters, methane production, and rumen microbial community composition during in vitro fermentation trials. The objective was to evaluate the potential of quinoa as a viable silage material. Five treatment groups were set up with varying quinoa proportions of 0, 30, 50, 70, and 100%, and stored 60 days. The results showed that increasing the quinoa proportion in the alfalfa-quinoa mixed silage resulted in a decrease in concentrations of propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and the methane (CH₄) fraction of total gas emissions (p < 0.05). Conversely, dry matter digestibility, total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration, acetate concentration, acetate to prop

SUBMITTER: Bai J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12016881 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature