The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole and ground corn grain in ruminal pH and total dry matter intake in diets for goats. Eight crossbreed goats (Creole x Nubian) was fitted with a rumen cannula and assigned in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square experimental design. Two experiments were conducted; in the first test we used whole grain corn and second, ground corn grain. Ruminal pH data was measured for each goat as average pH, area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, and duration less than pH 6 . In the first experiment, there were not differences (p> 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, average pH and duration less than pH 6 among diets. A tendency was observed (p= 0.08) to decrease in DMI and the F/C decreased linearly (p< 0.05) with increasing whole corn in ration. In the second experiment, a significant linear increase was observed (p< 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, with increasing ground corn. A linear decrease (p <0.05) was observed in average ruminal pH and linear increase (p <0.05) in duration less than pH 6. There was no difference in DMI and linear decrease (p <0.05) in F/C with increasing whole. The milling corn grain, increase the hydrolysis rate of the starch, possibly because to increased bacterial colonization of the horny endosperm surface, lowering ruminal pH.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Antonini de Ruiz, Alicia Graciela

Arias, Rubén Omar

Calonge, Felipe Santiago

Cattáneo, Ana Carolina

Cordiviola, Carlos Ángel

Muro, María Gabriela

Trigo, María Soledad

International Journal of Sciences

English

El Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual

International Journal of Sciences
Research Article Volume 4 - March 2015 (03)
Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal
pH in Goats Diets
Arias, R V “; Cordiviola, C.A1; Muro, M.G1; Trigo, M.S1; Cattaneo, A.C2;
Calonge, F.S'; Antonini, A2
'Cátedra de Introducción a la Producción Animal. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales UNLP 
2IGEVET. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias UNLP
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole and ground corn grain in ruminal pH and 
total dry matter intake in diets for goats. Eight crossbreed goats (Creole x Nubian) was fitted with a rumen cannula 
and assigned in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square experimental design. Two experiments were conducted; in the first 
test we used whole grain corn and second, ground corn grain. Ruminal pH data was measured for each goat as 
average pH, area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, and duration less than pH 6 . In the first 
experiment, there were not differences (p> 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, average pH 
and duration less than pH 6 among diets. A tendency was observed (p= 0.08) to decrease in DMI and the F/C 
decreased linearly (p< 0.05) with increasing whole corn in ration. In the second experiment, a significant linear 
increase was observed (p< 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, with increasing ground 
corn. A linear decrease (p <0.05) was observed in average ruminal pH and linear increase (p <0.05) in duration less 
than pH 6. There was no difference in DMI and linear decrease (p <0.05) in F/C with increasing whole. The milling 
corn grain, increase the hydrolysis rate of the starch, possibly because to increased bacterial colonization of the
horny endosperm surface, lowering ruminal pH. 
Keywords: whole corn, ground corn, ruminal pH 
INTRODUCTION
The demand for animal products is increasing in 
developing countries (Delgado et al., 1999), and, as a 
consequence, the demand for cereals for animal feed 
competes with that for human consumption. In 
addition, there is growing use of cereals in biofuel 
production, which has pushed the pnces of most 
cereals to record levels (FAO, 2008). These facts 
highlight the need to design diverse strategies in 
animal nutrition to utilize alternative sources of 
nutrients and decrease cereal use.
The meat-goat industry has grown recently (Oman et 
al., 1999; Cameron et al., 2001), providing many new 
opportunities for additional income on diversified 
farming operations. Meat-goat producers will need 
feeds that are economical and easily managed. Grain- 
based commercial supplements may not be 
economical for growing and finishing meat goats, and 
feeding these traditionally high-starch supplements 
may lead to reduced ruminal pH and fiber 
digestibility (Garces-Yepezurces et al., 1997).
When animals eat grains usually decreases forage 
intake. This is known as substitution rate (Stockdale, 
2000a). The incorporation of concentrates into 
ruminant diets is intended to increase dietary energy, 
proteins, minerals, and vitamins and to optimize the 
efficiency of feed utilization (Morand-Fehr and 
Sauvant, 1987). However, grain supplementation may 
decrease ruminal degradability of alfalfa hay in diets 
for goats (Arias et al., 2013). The degree which 
concentrates affect fiber digestion may depend on the 
nature and proportion of the concentrate as well as 
the quality of the forage (Matejovsky and Sanson, 
1995).
The goat production systems traditionally developed 
based on grazing, in the present time there is a 
tendency toward intensification (Castel et al., 2003) 
and, hence, to the use of increasing amounts of 
concentrate in diets. The world goat population has 
been steadily increasing (39% increase from 1986 to 
2000; FAO, 2008), but research into digestibility, 
ruminal fermentation, or microbial protein synthesis 
(Cerrillo et al., 1999; Yanez-Ruiz et al., 2004) in
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. Publication rights with Alkhaer Publications. 
Published at: http://www.iisciences.com/pub/issue/2015-03/
Article Number: V420150311; Online ISSN: 2305-3925; Print ISSN: 2410-4477
f  Arias, R (Correspondence)
1 3  iaroa@yahoo.com.ar
Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal pH in Goats Diets
goats fed different quality forages is scarce compared 
with that carried out with other animal species.
Cereal ground grains in the rumen causes insufficient 
saliva secretion to maintain the pH between 6 and 7 
and stimulate rumen motility (Gongalves, 2001).
The protein matrix around the starch granules 
explains the differences of cereal grains digestibility 
(Stern, et al., 1994).
Changes in eating habits of rumiants in intensive 
systems may cause fermentation disturbances as 
ruminal acidosis (Afonso, 2005). Cases of subacute 
acidosis in dairy cattle are caused by improper 
management in animal nutrition (Noro, et al., 2010).
Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a common 
health and production problem occurring in 
ruminants and is often triggered by low ruminal pH 
from a low-fiber diet. In addition to the quantity of 
fiber consumed, the physical form of feed also plays 
an important role in the cause of SARA. Feed with 
shorter particle sizes usually result in reduced 
chewing time and ruminal pH (Grant et al., 1990). 
Goats have different feeding behavior, intake, diet 
selection, and rate of eating from other ruminants (Lu 
et al., 2005); thus, knowledge obtained from different 
species may not extrapolate well to goats.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects 
of whole and ground corn grain in ruminal pH and 
total dry matter intake in diets for goats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eight crossbreed goats (Creole x Nubian) with an 
average BW of 39.2 + 0.6 kg was fitted with a rumen 
cannula (i.d. = 4 cm) and assigned in a replicated 4 x 
4 Latin square experimental design. Goats were 
housed indoors under continuous light in individual 
metabolism crates (1 m x 1.5 m). Two experiments 
were conducted; in the first test we used whole grain 
corn and second, ground corn grain.
Diets Exp. 1
Four diets were tested: alfalfa hay (E0), alfalfa hay + 
whole corn grain at 0.5% LW / day (E1), alfalfa hay +
whole corn grain at 1% LW / day (E2) and alfalfa hay 
+ whole corn grain at 1.5% LW / day (E3).
Diets Exp. 2
Four diets were tested: alfalfa hay (M0), alfalfa hay + 
ground corn grain at 0.5% LW / day (M1), alfalfa hay 
+ ground corn grain at 1% LW / day (M2) and alfalfa 
hay + ground corn grain at 1.5% LW / day (M3). 
Alfalfa hay was offered ad libitum and implemented 
to adapt period of fifteen days diet.
Was calculated the total dry matter intake (DMI) and 
forage concentrate ratio (F/C).
On d 16, a 50-mL sample of rumen contents was 
individually collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h 
after the morning feeding. Ruminal pH was measured 
with pH transmitter puncture electrode incorporated. 
The electrodes were calibrated using pH 4.0 and 7.0 
standards and suspended in the fluid rumen extracted 
from the cannula using a hand breast pump. Ruminal 
pH data was measured for each goat as average pH, 
area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, 
and duration less than pH 6 (Yang and Beauchemin, 
2007).
Statistical Analyses
Intake and area between the curve and a horizontal 
line at pH 6, duration less than pH 6, and average 
ruminal pH data were analyzed as a 4 x 4 Latin 
square (Steel and Torrie, 1980) using a mixed model 
that included the fixed effect of sampling (treatment, 
period) and the random effect of the animal. 
Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine linear 
(L) cubic (C) and quadratic (Q) effects of increasing 
levels of concentrate. All statistical computations 
were conducted using the GLM procedure of SAS.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the first experiment, there were not differences (p> 
0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line 
at pH 6, average pH and duration less than pH 6 
among diets. A tendency was observed (p= 0.08) to 
decrease in DMI with increasing concentrate. The 
F/C decreased linearly (p< 0.05) with increasing 
whole corn in ration. Low ruminal pH was observed 
between 8 and 12 hours after intake of the ration 
(Figure 1).
http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 4 -  March 2015 (03)
Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal pH in Goats Diets
Table1. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts to determine linear, quadratic and cubic effects on ruminal pH, DMI and
F/C with whole corn in the diet.
pH (h/d): area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6 .
pHm: Means pH during 24 hours of measurement, according to treatment.
Hr pH<6 : duration less than pH 6 .
F_C: forage: concentrate, according to treatment.
Intake, Kg/d: total dry matter intake.
L: Probability value associated with a linear effect of level of supplementation with whole corn in an orthogonal 
polynomial contrast.
Q: Probability value associated with a quadratic effect of level of supplementation with whole corn in polynomial 
orthogonal contrast.
C: Probability value associated with a cubic effect of level of supplementation with whole corn in polynomial 
orthogonal contrast.
Figure 1. Ruminal pH according to treatments.
In the second experiment, with ground corn as supplement, a significant linear increase was observed (p< 0.05) on 
area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6 , with increasing ground corn. A linear decrease (p <0.05) was 
observed in average ruminal pH and linear increase (p <0.05) in duration less than pH 6 . There was no difference in 
DMI and linear decrease (p <0.05) in F/C with increasing whole (Table 2). Low ruminal pH was observed between 
6 and 8 hours after intake of the ration (Figure 2).
http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 4 -  March 2015 (03)
Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal pH in Goats Diets
Table2. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts to determine linear, quadratic and cubic effects on ruminal pH, dry matter
intake and forage: concentrate with ground corn in the diet.
pH (h/d): area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6.
pHm: Means pH during 24 hours of measurement, according to treatment.
Hr pH<6: duration less than pH 6.
F_C: forage: concentrate, according to treatment.
Intake, Kg/d: total dry matter intake.
L: Probability value associated with a linear effect of level of supplementation with ground corn in an orthogonal 
polynomial contrast.
Q: Probability value associated with a quadratic effect of level of supplementation with ground corn in polynomial 
orthogonal contrast.
C: Probability value associated with a cubic effect of level of supplementation with ground corn in polynomial 
orthogonal contrast.
Figure 2. Ruminal pH according to treatments.
Goat production has increased in the last years (FAO, 
2008). This could be due to a need for livestock 
diversification whit a tendency toward intensification 
(Oman et al., 1999; Cameron et al., 2001; Castel et 
al., 2003). Therefore, in agree to Morand-Fehr and 
Sauvant (1987); Grant et al., (1990) Afonso, (2005) 
and Noro, et al., (2010) that incorporating 
concentrates in diets, for increased productivity, 
causes fermentative ruminal diseases as SARA, and
whit pH recorded in these studies employing corn as 
energetic concentrate, probably decreased ruminal 
degradability and fiber digestibility of alfalfa hay 
(Matejovsky and Sanson, 1995; Gongalves, 2001; 
Arias, et al., 2013).
The lower ruminal pH observed in experiment 2 may 
be attributed to increased exposure of the starch of 
ground corn (Stern, et al., 1994).
http://www.ijSciences.com Volume 4 -  March 2015 (03)
Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal pH in Goats Diets
In both experiments a substitution of corn whit forage 
was observed while decreasing F / C (Stockdale, 
2000a).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the process of milling corn grain, 
increase the hydrolysis rate of the starch, possibly 
because to increased bacterial colonization of the 
horny endosperm surface, this effect was noticed by a 
lower value of ruminal pH.
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