Effects of dose and adaptation time of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) on rumen fermentation

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of different doses and different adaptation time of ginger powder on rumen fermentation in vivo. In Experiment 1, four sheep were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate the effects of three concentrations (5, 10, and 20 g/kg) of ginger powder on rumen fermentation. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was decreased (P<0.05), but the fatty acid compositions, acetate-to-propionate ratio, pH, and ammonia-N concentration were unchanged by the addition of ginger powder. In Experiment 2, eight sheep were used to study the long-term adaptation of ginger powder on rumen fermentation. The addition of ginger powder decreased (P<0.05) the total VFA concentration from days 5 to 20, but these differences disappeared thereafter. Other rumen fermentation parameters were unchanged when ginger powder was added. Therefore, data from short-term in vitro fermentation studies may lead to erroneous conclusions and should be interpreted with caution.