@article{article_635991, title={Effects of malate supplementation to the concentrate feed on performance, rumen fermentation and carcass yield of lambs fed forage at restricted and ad-libitum level}, journal={Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi}, volume={66}, pages={73–81}, year={2018}, author={Toprak, Neşe Nuray and Öztürk, Hakan and Yurdakök Dikmen, Begüm and Ünler, Ferhunde Melis}, keywords={Acetic acid,alfalfa hay,carcass,malate,rumen fermentation}, abstract={The effects of sodium and calcium salts of malic acid on growth performance, rumen pH, protozoa number, NH 3 - N level and volatile fatty acid (VFA) ratio and carcass yield in Akkaraman lambs fed alfalfa hay either restricted or ad-libitum were investigated. In a completely randomized design experiment, treatments were arranged at 2x2 factorial fashion: two forage levels (100 g/d or ad-libitum) and two malate levels (0 or 5 g/d), which were tested in 32 male lambs (3-4 months of age, 23.28±1.27 kg BW). Adaptation to feeding lasted 10 days; while sampling period lasted for 60 days. Growth performance, feed intake, slaughter and carcass weight were not affected by the treatments. A significant change was found in ruminal pH by forage feding level over time. At the beginning of the experiment the amount of acetic acid was increased by ad-libitum alfalfa hay consumption and malate addition but this effect was disappeared end of the trial. Rumen propionic acid, NH 3 -N concentration and protozoa number were not affected by the treatments but they changed by the sampling time. There was alfalfa hay level x malate supplementation x sampling time interaction effect on butyric acid concentration. In conclusion, malate addition did not improve growth rate and carcass yield of lambs but it affected ruminal acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in lambs fed alfalfa ad-libitum.    }, number={1}, publisher={Ankara University}