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Abstract
The effect of the content of long straw (LS) in the ration on the rumen contents and rumen fermentation was investigated in a study with 3 lactating cows, two 3x3 Latin square blocks with three levels of long straw (LS): 4%, 10% and 20%. The daily rations were composed of pelleted feed and LS, their dry matter content was 16 kg, and 1/12 was fed restrictively every second hour. The ingredient composition, chemical composition, and the energy value of the rations were nearly identical. The decrease in the content of LS from 20% to 4% resulted in a significantly linear reduction in total content of ruminal ingesta (p<0.05), ruminal liquid (p<0.04), flowing layer ingesta (p<0.04), flowing layer DM percentage (p<0.02), and in an increased DM percentage in the non-flowing layer ingesta (p<0.001). The decreasing content of LS caused a significant linear decrease in pH from 6.1 to 5.8 (p<0.03) and a decrease in the in-sacco disappearence of barley straw (p<0.02). The concentration of ammonia and the proportions of butyrate (p<0.006) and valerate (p<0.03) increased significantly with decreasing LS content.