Table 3 Rumen fluid pH and fermentation profile in Hari lambs fed diets with Moringa oleifera or Moringa peregrina as partial or complete substitutes for alfalfa hay.

pH

Pre-pH

6.81

6.53

6.60

6.48

6.38

0.05

0.06

Post-pH

5.68

5.88

5.73

5.80

5.90

0.05

0.64

Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)¹

Acetic acid

42.05^b

37.38^c

46.39^a

39.28^c

43.18^b

0.76

< 0.0001

Propionic acid

25.84^ab

23.84^b

18.99^c

27.50^a

24.42^b

0.69

< 0.0001

Butyric acid

27.28^b

33.91^a

27.10^b

28.89^ab

28.63^ab

0.76

0.0106

Valerate

2.63^a

1.65^d

2.12^bc

2.24^ab

1.79^dc

0.09

< 0.0001

Iso butyric

1.62^b

0.75^c

2.65^a

0.77^c

0.82^c

0.18

< 0.0001

Iso valerate

2.23^b

0.49^c

3.87^a

0.55^c

0.85^c

0.31

< 0.0001

Total VFAs

25.97

26.19

31.57

30.35

32.12

1.53

0.604