高精料条件下酵母培养物与延胡索酸二钠组合对瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响

试验将不同剂量(0.05、0.07和0.09 g)酵母培养物(YC)和不同剂量(0.006、0.010和0.014 g)延胡索酸二钠(disodium fumarate)按3×3试验设计分为9种组合,研究高精料(精粗比为8∶2)下,二者组合对奶山羊瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响.通过对9种组合体外发酵指标的综合效应评定,确定优化组合剂量,并采用体外培养装置进行体外批次试验.结果表明,与对照组相比,9种组合的pH值和累计产气量均显著升高(P＜0.05),NH3-N浓度均显著低于对照组(P＜0.05).9种组合显著提高了体外培养体系总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)和丙酸浓度(P＜0.05),但乙酸/丙酸及乙酸浓度显著降低(P＜0.05).结果显示,当YC和延胡索酸二钠的添加量分别为0.090g和0.006g时,体外发酵效果最佳.     

高精料条件下酵母培养物与延胡索酸二钠组合对瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响

本试验将不同剂量(0.05、0.07g和0.09g)酵母培养物(YC)和不同剂量(0.006、0.01g和0.014g)延胡索酸二钠(disodiumfumarate)按2×3试验设计分为9种组合,研究高精料(精粗比为8:2)下,二者组合对奶山羊瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响。通过对9种组合体外发酵指标的综合效应评定,确定优化组合剂量,并采用体外培养装置进行体外批次试验。结果表明:与对照组相比,9种组合的pH和累计产气量均显著升高(P0.05),NH3-N浓度均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。9种组合显著提高了体外培养体系总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)和丙酸浓度(P0.05),但乙酸/丙酸及乙酸浓度显著降低(P0.05)。结果显示,当YC和延胡索酸二钠的添加量分别为0.09g和0.006g时,体外发酵效果最佳。     

高精料条件下酵母培养物与延胡索酸二钠组合对瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响

试验将不同剂量（0.05、0.07和0.09g）酵母培养物（YC）和不同剂量（0.006、0.010和0.014g）延胡索酸二钠（disodium fumarate）按3×3试验设计分为9种组合,研究高精料（精粗比为8：2）下,二者组合对奶山羊瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响。通过对9种组合体外发酵指标的综合效应评定,确定优化组合剂量,并采用体外培养装置进行体外批次试验。结果表明,与对照组相比,9种组合的pH值和累计产气量均显著升高（P〈0.05）,NH3-N浓度均显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）。9种组合显著提高了体外培养体系总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）和丙酸浓度（P〈0.05）,但乙酸/丙酸及乙酸浓度显著降低（P〈0.05）。结果显示,当YC和延胡索酸二钠的添加量分别为0.090g和0.006g时,体外发酵效果最佳。     

延胡索酸二钠对断奶羔羊瘤胃发育及瘤胃发酵功能的影响

为了研究日粮中添加延胡索酸二钠对断奶羔羊瘤胃发育及瘤胃发酵功能的影响,选用30只日龄为(50±5)d、体重为(25±2)kg的公羔,随机分为3组,每组10只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮的基础上添加0.5%(Ⅰ组)和1%(Ⅱ组)的延胡索酸二钠,试验期70 d。结果显示:1试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组断奶羔羊体增重比对照组分别增重3.2%(P0.05)和55.5%(P0.05);试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组瘤胃净重比对照组分别高8.5%(P0.05)和26.4%(P0.01),Ⅰ和Ⅱ组间差异显著(P0.05);试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组断奶羔羊瘤胃乳头高度比对照组分别高8.2%和9.2%,Ⅱ组乳头密度比对照组降低16.2%,各组间差异均不显著(P0.05)。2Ⅰ和Ⅱ组瘤胃p H值比对照组高(P=0.08);Ⅰ和Ⅱ组瘤胃氨态氮(NH3-N)浓度比对照组分别降低29.7%(P0.05)和21.0%(P0.05);Ⅰ和Ⅱ组瘤胃内容物中乳酸浓度分别比对照组降低27.0%(P0.01)和19.5%(P0.01);乙酸、丙酸、丁酸、乙酸/丙酸和总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)浓度3组间差异不显著(P0.05)。结果提示:日粮中添加延胡索酸二钠提高了断奶羔羊的体增重及瘤胃净重和瘤胃p H值,降低了瘤胃内氨态氮及乳酸浓度。     

硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠混合物对水牛瘤胃甲烷含量、体外发酵参数、脂肪酸组成和瘤胃微生物数量的影响

本试验旨在研究体外条件下不同比例硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠混合物对水牛瘤胃甲烷产量、体外发酵参数、脂肪酸组成及瘤胃微生物数量的影响。选取3头体重约为（650±50） kg安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的母水牛作为瘤胃液的供体动物。试验共设4个组,每组5个重复,硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠的添加比例分别为2：1、1：1、1：2,对照组不添加任何两者混合物。每组均添加0.25 mg·mL^-1的α-亚麻酸,试验组硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠混合物浓度为1 mg·mL^-1。结果表明：1）添加不同比例硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠混合物均可显著降低甲烷含量（P<0.05）,平均降幅为90.63%;2）高剂量硝酸钠与低剂量延胡索酸二钠（2：1）混合添加时会导致总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）含量和大部分瘤胃微生物的数量显著降低（P<0.05）,乙酸含量、乙酸/丙酸、花生戊烯酸（EPA）含量、共轭亚油酸（CLA）含量和不饱和脂肪酸/饱和脂肪酸（UFA/SFA）显著升高（P<0.05）;3）低剂量硝酸钠与高剂量延胡索酸二钠（1：2）混合时对TVFA含量、脂肪酸含量和瘤胃微生物数量无显著影响（P>0.05）;4）添加硝酸钠延胡索酸二钠同剂量（1：1）能显著升高EPA、CLA含量和UFA/SFA（P<0.05）,但显著降低了水牛瘤胃溶纤维丁酸弧菌和非典型丁酸弧菌数量。由此可见,添加不同比例硝酸钠和延胡索酸二钠混合物均可降低甲烷产量,随着延胡索酸二钠添加比例的增加可以缓解硝酸钠对瘤胃发酵的不利影响。     

添加延胡索酸二钠对水牛瘤胃体外发酵、脂肪酸组成及关键微生物数量的影响

试验旨在研究不同浓度延胡索酸二钠对水牛瘤胃体外发酵参数、脂肪酸组成及关键微生物数量的影响.选取3头体重约为(650±50) kg、安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的水牛作为瘤胃液的供体动物,通过体外批次培养,试验设4个组(每组5个重复),每组各添加0.25 mg/mL的α-亚麻酸,延胡索酸二钠分别添加0(对照)、1、2、3 mg/m...     

体外法研究不同剂量延胡索酸二钠对绵羊瘤胃发酵的影响

利用体外产气法研究添加不同剂量延胡索酸二钠对绵羊瘤胃发酵的影响。采用单因素完全随机设计,发酵底物以可溶性淀粉和纤维素为碳源,以胰蛋白胨为氮源,对照组不添加延胡索酸二钠,试验1、2、3组分别添加占发酵底物干物质1.0%、2.0%和3.0%的延胡索酸二钠。结果显示,与对照组相比,添加1%的延胡索酸二钠（试验1组）可显著（P<0.05）提高瘤胃的总挥发性脂肪酸、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸产量以及体外产气量和干物质降解率;添加2%的延胡索酸二钠（试验2组）可显著（P<0.05）提高瘤胃的总挥发性脂肪酸、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸产量和干物质降解率;添加3%的延胡索酸二钠组（试验3组）的瘤胃氨氮浓度、总挥发性脂肪酸和乙酸产量、产气量、干物质降解率与对照组差异不显著（P>0.05）,但丙酸产量显著增加（P<0.05）。综上表明,添加1%和2%的延胡索酸二钠会显著提高绵羊瘤胃发酵性能,但添加3%的延胡索酸二钠,瘤胃发酵能力有所降低。     

日粮中添加延胡索酸对奶牛体外瘤胃发酵的影响

利用体外培养试验,通过测定培养24h后培养液pH值、BCP、NH3-N、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和TVFA等各项指标,综合评定了奶牛日粮中添加延胡索酸后对瘤胃发酵功能的影响.结果表明,与对照组比较,添加4mmol/L、7mmol/L的延胡索酸试验组的培养液pH值显著提高(P＜0.05);添加4mmol/L和10mmol/L延胡索酸试验组BCP含量显著提高(P＜0.05).添加各剂量延胡索酸对培养液NH3-N含量均没有显著的影响.添加4mmol/L、7mmol/L处理组均提高了培养液的乙酸(P＜0.05)和丙酸(P＜0.05),添加10mmol/L处理组提高了丙酸(P＜0.05)浓度,降低了丁酸(P＜0.05).     

日粮中添加延胡索酸对奶牛体外瘤胃发酵的影响

利用体外培养试验,通过测定培养24h后培养液pH值、BCP、NH3-N、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和TVFA等各项指标,综合评定了奶牛日粮中添加延胡索酸后对瘤胃发酵功能的影响。结果表明,与对照组比较,添加4mmol/L、7mmol/L的延胡索酸试验组的培养液pH值显著提高(P<0.05);添加4mmol/L和10mmol/L延胡索酸试验组BCP含量显著提高(P<0.05)。添加各剂量延胡索酸对培养液NH3-N含量均没有显著的影响。添加4mmol/L、7mmol/L处理组均提高了培养液的乙酸(P<0.05)和丙酸(P<0.05),添加10mmol/L处理组提高了丙酸(P<0.05)浓度,降低了丁酸(P<0.05)。     

添加延胡索酸钠对体外瘤胃发酵的影响

用三只瘘管羊的混合瘤胃液进行体外批次和半持续培养试验来研究延胡索酸钠对癌胃体外发酵的影响。绵羊的基础日粮为干草、大麦、糖蜜、鱼粉以及矿物质-维生素添加剂(分别占500、299.5、100、91和9.9g/kg干物质)。体外批次培养试验中,由10ml过滤的瘤胃液和200mg上述饲料组成的40ml厌氧缓冲液作为细菌培养物。添加延胡索酸钠使最终浓度为0、5、10mmol/l,从而使添加0、250、500μmol分别相当于0、200、400g/kg饲料。水溶培养24h后,CH_4产量(对照组为360μmol延胡索酸)分别下降了18和22μmol(SED=7.5,p<0.05)。总产气量增加,H_2无显著变化。乙酸产量大量增加(92和194μmol;SED=26.7,p<0.01),丙酸也同时增加(212和396μmol,SED=13.0,p<0.001)。通过应用瘤胃模拟技术(Rusitec)研究延胡索酸对瘤胃发酵和CH_4产量的长期影响。8个发酵罐内每天加20g上述基础日粮,其中4个罐内添加延胡索酸(二钠盐)。19天后,添加6.25mmol延胡索酸组CH_4产量下降1.2mmol(SED=0.39,p<0.05),相当于消耗4.9mmolH_2,丙酸产量增加4.9mmol(每天从10.4到15.3(SED=1.05)mmol变化,p<0.01)。添加延胡索酸组CH_4生成的能力没有下降。这是部分延胡索酸转化为了酸相应引起CH_4减少的缘故。延胡索酸对细菌总数或产甲烷菌数无显著影响(p>0.05)。但纤     

体外法研究延胡索酸二钠对瘤胃微生物发酵活力及甲烷产量的影响

为探讨延胡索酸二钠对瘤胃甲烷产量及瘤胃微生物发酵活力的影响,本研究共设计了3个试验来阐明该问题。试验1采用体外批次培养,研究了不同日粮条件下(高牧草日粮、中等水平牧草的日粮和低牧草日粮)添加延胡索酸二钠(0,4和7mmol/L)对山羊瘤胃微生物发酵及甲烷产量的影响。结果表明,较对照相比,添加延胡索酸二钠显著提高了累积产气量、pH值和TVFA产量(P<0.05),降低了甲烷产量(P<0.05),其中高牧草日粮组下降幅度最大。试验2探讨了延胡索酸二钠对黄化瘤胃球菌发酵粗饲料活力的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比;添加延胡索酸二钠显著提高了黄化瘤胃球菌数量及其对黑麦草的降解率(P<0.05);试验3探讨了延胡索酸二钠对瘤胃真菌发酵粗饲料活力的影响,结果显示,延胡索酸二钠显著降低了厌氧真菌发酵的总产气量、干物质消失率及羧甲基纤维素酶酶活(P<0.05)。结果说明,延胡索酸二钠在降低甲烷产量方面与发酵底物的天然特性有关,其中对高牧草日粮的作用效应最为显著;延胡索酸二钠可提高瘤胃混合微生物与瘤胃纤维降解菌发酵粗饲料的能力,但对瘤胃真菌的发酵活力具有抑制效应。     

不同无机磷添加水平对混合瘤胃微生物体外发酵的影响

采用体外法研究无机磷添加浓度对瘤胃发酵的影响。培养液中设0mg/L、30mg/L、60mg/L、90mg/L、120mg/L、150mg/L、200mg/L、250mg/L、300mg/L、350mg/L共10个无机磷水平。体外发酵48h后终止培养,测定培养液的产气量、pH值、挥发性脂肪酸、干物质降解率、NDF降解率。结果表明:无机磷添加水平对48h总产气量和DM降解率影响显著(P0.05),随着无机磷添加水平的提高,48h总产气量和DM降解率显著提高,添加水平为200mg/L时达到最大值,分别为44.30mL和54.80%,随后下降。瘤胃培养液pH值随无机磷添加水平的增加而显著降低(P0.05),无机磷添加水平为200mg/L时达到最小值6.35,随后又上升。不同无机磷添加水平对乙酸、丙酸、丁酸和总VFA产量影响显著(P0.05),无机磷添加水平为200mg/L时,乙酸、丙酸、丁酸及总VFA产量最高,随后下降。     

绞股蓝皂甙对体外瘤胃微生物甲烷产量及发酵特性的影响

利用体外产气量法研究绞股蓝皂甙对山羊瘤胃微生物体外甲烷产量及发酵特性的影响。试验包括2个部分,试验一研究了绞股蓝皂甙对瘤胃微生物甲烷产量及发酵特性的影响,试验二分析绞股蓝皂甙对瘤胃微生物发酵动力学参数的影响。试验以0.42 g羊草＋0.126 g玉米＋0.054 g豆粕为发酵底物,60 mL培养基中的绞股蓝皂甙添加量分别为0(对照),5,10,20和40 mg,发酵24 h。与对照组比较,发酵8 h,各处理组甲烷浓度显著下降(P<0.05),分别下降30.20％,43.49％,44.67％和75.8％;12 h,20 mg组显著下降(P<0.05),40 mg组极显著下降(P<0.01),处理组甲烷浓度分别下降6.97％,9.63％,18.90％和61.82％;24 h,10 mg组显著下降(P<0.05),40 mg组极显著下降(P<0.01),处理组甲烷浓度分别下降2.34％,9.39％,6.90％和20.73％,甲烷浓度与皂甙剂量之间有极显著的线性效应(P<0.01)。10 mg组的氢利用率极显著低于对照组,其他试验组无显著变化。10 mg组显著提高了TVFA及乙酸、丙酸、异丁酸、戊酸、异戊酸和支链脂肪酸浓度(P<0.05),40 mg组丁酸的浓度极显著下降(P<0.01)。10 mg组和20 mg组乙丙比显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。随着皂甙剂量增加,乙酸、丁酸、异丁酸、戊酸、异戊酸、支链脂肪酸、总挥发性脂肪酸浓度及乙丙比呈显著或极显著的二次方效应,丁酸同时具有极显著的线性效应。处理组原虫数量显著(P<0.05)或极显著下降(P<0.01)(40 mg组),且与皂甙剂量间存在极显著的线性和二次方效应(P<0.01)。微生物蛋白含量没有显著变化,但呈上升趋势。10 mg组和40 mg组的氨态氮浓度显著升高(P<0.05),氨态氮浓度与皂甙剂量之间有显著的线性效应(P<0.05)。高剂量绞股蓝皂甙降低了微生物发酵的理论与实际产气量,并呈显著的线性和二次方效应,产气速率与皂甙剂量之间有着显著的线性效应。以上结果表明绞股蓝皂甙能改变瘤胃微生物发酵模式,降低瘤胃微生物的甲烷产量,提高VFA的产量,有利于饲料能量的利用,同时缓解甲烷对大气环境的污染。     

In vitro ruminal fermentation and in situ ruminal degradation of tamarind kernel powder extract residue in wethers

We examined the in vitro fermentation characteristics and in situ dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability of tamarind kernel powder extract residue (TKPER), a by‐product of polysaccharides thickener processing. Two types of TKPER (I and II), of which the CP and neutral detergent fiber organic matter basis contents (%) were 41.4 and 42.0 and 1.4 and 0.5, respectively, were compared with dry heat soybean (SB), soybean meal (SBM) and dry soybean curd residue (SBCR). The TKPERs had significantly lower in vitro gas production compared to the other products at each observation time (P < 0.05). The in vitro DM and CP digestibility (%) of TKPER I and II were 67.7 and 64.9, and 64.5 and 58.0, respectively, significantly lower than those of SB and SBM (P < 0.05). We used four wethers (55.6 ± 4.6 kg) with ruminal cannulas to investigate the in situ degradability of TKPER I, SB, SBM and SBCR. At the ruminal outflow rate of 0.05/h, the effective degradability (%) values of the DM and CP of TKPER I were 64.1 and 49.7, respectively, which were similar to those of SBM. In conclusion, TKPER had high CP and exhibited in situ degradability similar to that of SBM, suggesting that TKPER could be used as a protein source feed.     

Influence of storage time and processing on chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation of olive cake

Olive oil extraction generates olive cake (OC) that could be used in ruminant feeding. However, the chemical composition of OC is affected by multiple factors, being therefore highly variable. The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of storage time and further processing: crude, exhausted (subjected to a second oil extraction) and cyclone (obtained from a cyclone separator) on nutritive value of OC samples. Twelve samples (six crude and six exhausted) were obtained monthly from the same pond from 1 to 6 storage months, and nine samples (three crude, three exhausted and three cyclone) were obtained monthly from a different pond from 6 to 9 months storage. Chemical composition was analysed, and OC samples were fermented in vitro with sheep rumen fluid. Increasing storage time up to 6 months decreased sugars and total soluble polyphenols content but increased fibre content in OC. Dry matter effective degradability (DMED) decreased linearly (p < 0.001) by 35.9 and 45.5% as storage time augmented from 1 to 6 months for crude and exhausted OC, respectively. Crude OC had lower DMED values than exhausted OC (averaged values 0.255 and 0.294 g/g, respectively). Both potential production and rate of gas production were lower (p ≤ 0.018) in crude compared with exhausted OC, which was attributed to the high fat content of crude OC (≥86 g/kg dry matter). For samples stored longer than 6 months, cyclone had greater (p < 0.05) DMED than crude and exhausted OC (averaged values 0.207, 0.164 and 0.164 g/g, respectively). The results indicate that ruminal degradability of OC is reduced with advancing storage time, but only subtle changes were observed during the first two months. Cyclone showed greater degradability than crude and exhausted OC, but differences between crude and exhausted OC became negligible after five storage months.     

In vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of gum arabic under concentrate and forage substrate conditions

Gum arabic (GA) has potential rumen modifier functions. This is the first study to investigate the in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of GA. Rumen fluid was collected from ruminal fistulated wethers; rolled barley and ryegrass straw were used as substrates for concentrate and forage conditions, respectively. Besides incubating with the substrates alone (control), GA or potato starch (PS) was added at 0.2%, 1.0%, and 2.0% along with substrates. Under the concentrate substrate condition, GA treatments showed higher total gas production in 24-h incubation, but lower methane production in 24- and 48-h incubation compared with PS treatments (p < 0.05). The 1.0% and 2.0% GA and 0.2% and 1.0% PS treatments showed higher dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility and lower NH₃-N, and higher short chain fatty acid concentrations compared with the control at 24-h incubation (p < 0.05). The GA treatments also showed a lower acetate/propionate ratio than PS treatments at 48-h incubation (p < 0.01). Under the forage substrate condition, the treatment effects were not significant, except for a higher proportion of propionate with GA than with PS at 24 and 48 h of incubations. We thus concluded that GA supplement may exert potential rumen modifier effects particularly under concentrate feeding condition.     

不同形式的氮源对活体外瘤胃氨氮释放和发酵参数的影响

选用普通尿素、两种包被缓释尿素(快速型和慢速型)、糊化淀粉尿素和大豆分离蛋白作为五种处理因子,采用单因子试验设计,利用活体外人工瘤胃产气法,研究不同形式的氮源对活体外瘤胃氨氮释放速度和发酵参数的影响.结果表明:在0～12h发酵过程中,不同形式氮源显著影响活体外瘤胃氨氮释放规律,其中两种包被尿素的氨氮浓度在各时间点均低于...     

Effects of supplementary mother liquor,by‐product of monosodium glutamate,on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics

Mother liquor (ML) is monosodium glutamate by‐product and contains much crude protein (CP). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of two types of MLs having different chemical compositions on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics. ML1 had 74% organic matter (OM) and 70% CP and ML2 had 85% OM and 83% CP on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experiments were conducted using 0.5 gDM rolled barley or ryegrass straw as substrates. Urea and freeze‐dried MLs were added at three levels of nitrogen to be isonitrogenous. The ML1 treatment increased gas production compared with the ML2 treatment in barley substrate condition (p < 0.05). The supplementary ML2 increased gas production compared with the supplementary urea, and the digestibilities of DM and neutral detergent fiber expressed exclusive of residual ash (NDFom) were higher for the supplementary ML2 than for the supplementary ML1 in straw substrate condition (p < 0.05). In both the conditions, ammonia nitrogen concentrations of the ML1 and ML2 treatments were lower than that of the urea treatment (p < 0.05). The results indicated that the supplementary ML1 and ML2 activated in vitro ruminal fermentation particularly in concentrate and roughage substrate conditions respectively.     

Effect of supplementation of rice bran and fumarate alone or in combination on in vitro rumen fermentation,methanogenesis and methanogens

This study investigated the effect of fumarate (FUM) and rice bran (RB), alone and together, on in vitro rumen fermentation, methanogenesis and methanogens. In vitro incubation was performed with six media that were either unsupplemented (control) or supplemented with 10% RB, 5 mmol/L FUM, 10% RB + 5 mmol/L FUM, 10 mmol/L FUM, or 10% RB + 10 mmol/L FUM. Methane (CH₄) production, dry matter digestibility, CH₄ per digested dry matter, total short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, proportion of SCFA, acetate : proprionate ratio, production of NH₃‐N, and population density of rumen microbes were determined. Supplementation with 10% RB + 10 mmol/L FUM yielded a 36% decrease in CH₄ production compared to the control. Supplementation of FUM, in the presence or absence of RB, provided increases in total SCFA production and propionate proportion up to 61% and 31%, respectively. Total bacteria, methanogens and protozoa populations were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with the 10% RB + 10 mmol/L FUM supplementation. The effect of anti‐methanogenesis of FUM was enhanced by the addition of RB. Notably, the CH₄ production attenuation was achieved by 10% RB + 10 mmol/L FUM without reduction of digestibility or of ruminal fermentation.     

In situ ruminal degradation and in vitro fermentation characteristics,and antioxidative activities of the lotus rhizome

We evaluated the lotus rhizome as a potential ruminant feed by investigating its compositional properties, in situ degradation profile and in vitro fermentation characteristics with ruminal microbes, in comparison with cereal grains (corn, barley and wheat). The antioxidative activities in the lotus rhizome were also estimated. The soluble fraction of dry matter in lotus tuber was >70%, which was higher than those in the grains. The insoluble fraction in lotus tuber was not degraded by ruminal microbes in accord with a first‐order reaction. In an in vitro experiment, lotus tuber showed lower fermentation at 8 hr compared to the grains, but exhibited higher productions of gas and VFA at 48 hr along with a lower lactate and higher pH. The lower value of final lactate production in lotus tuber, indicating the metabolic capacity for lactate utilization retained, suggests a lower risk of ruminal acidosis compared to grains. Lotus rhizome had high antioxidant activities, with the foliar bud showing the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power, followed in order by the apical bud, node, residual tuber, edible tuber, and nodal root. For ruminants, the lotus rhizome could thus be not only an energy feed but also the source of natural antioxidants.