Table 2 Effects of nutritional levels on ruminal fermentation of early-weaned Hu lambs.

Rumen weight (g)

327.9^a

285.73^b

241.48^c

237.43^c

11.49

0.0003

Papillae Length (μm)

3247.34

3107.44

2741.46

2945.79

129.70

0.595

Papillae Width (μm)

394.28

383.85

341.63

322.21

14.00

0.2195

Mucosal thickness (μm)

211.31^a

175.18^b

140.89^b

156.33^b

8.53

0.0059

PH

6.78

6.89

6.96

6.95

0.16

0.8540

NH₃^-N (mmol/L)

17.47

15.60

13.42

12.39

3.60

0.8718

TVFA (mmol/L)

36.25^a

10.14^b

13.26^b

14.16^b

4.31

0.0055

Acetate (mmol/L)

18.23^a

5.84^b

5.27^b

7.78^b

1.70

0.0013

Propionate (mmol/L)

17.53^a

3.06^b

3.42^b

4.23^b

1.34

0.0001

Butyrate (mmol/L)

1.68^a

0.58^b

0.86^b

1.01^ab

0.18

0.0512