Influences of Feed Additives on in vitro Volatile Fatty Acid Production

This study investigated effects of the feed additives nitrate and fumarate alone or in combination on in vitro Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) production. Rumen fluid was collected from Holstein-Friesian cattle averaging 650 kg in BW (body weight) offered 11.4 kg d-1 per animal of concentrate diet containing equal amounts of soybean meal, whole cottonseed and ground corn once a day with free access to grass hay. The feed additives used were nitrate, fumarate and a nitrate-fumarate combination. Concentrations of VFAs were measured using Gas Chromatography. The results of the study revealed that nitrate decreased (p