| Summary: | This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high rice grain diet on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, nitrogen
digestion, blood parameters and rumen fermentation in goats. Sixteen growing goats were divided into 2 groups and fed a normalconcentrate
diet (NC, 55% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) or a high concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) for 5 wk.
Growth performance, nutrients digestibility, nitrogen digestion, blood parameters and ruminal fermentation were measured. Total weight
gain and average daily gain increased in the HC group (P<0.01). Digestibility of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fibre
(ADF), nitrogen intake and digested nitrogen also increased (P<0.05) by HC feeding. Triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and
low-density lipoprotein concentrations in the blood decreased (P<0.05). HC diet feeding decreased (P<0.01) the pH value, acetate level and
ratio of acetate to propionate, but increased (P<0.05) the concentrations of propionate, valerate and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen.
These findings revealed that the HC diet could promote the growth of growing goats, change the ruminal fermentation pattern and lipid
metabolism in the blood, but cause subacute ruminal acidosis, which might increase the risk of body health.
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