Effect of diet composition on digestion and rumen fermentation parameters in sheep and cashmere goats

The study was carried out to compare the voluntary intake, digestibility, mean retention times (MRTs) and rumen fermentation parameters in sheep and cashmere goats offered three pellet diets. Four Mongolian and Han crossbred sheep and four Inner Mongolian white cashmere goats, each fitted with a rumen cannula, were used in this study. The results showed that there were differences between sheep and goats in voluntary intake (P<0.05), apparent digestibility of fiber and MRT (P<0.01). Dietary types affected voluntary intake, apparent digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters (except pH). Sheep showed high voluntary dry matter (DM) intake, long rumen MRT and high apparent digestibility of fiber. When opportunity for diet selectivity was avoided, cashmere goats, compared with sheep, showed lower voluntary DM intake, shorter rumen MRT and lower apparent digestibility of fiber. Rumen fermentation parameters did not show differences between sheep and goats. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.