Effect of Palm Kernel Meal and Malic Acid on Rumen Characteristics of Growing Naemi Lambs Fed Total Mixed Ration

SIMPLE SUMMARY: To increase the feed efficiency, animals are usually fed with total mixed ration (TMR), however, its consumption is also associated with lactic acidosis. To minimize the incidence of lactic acidosis, different feeding systems are used. In this study, we have used malic acid to reduce the clinical signs of lactic acidosis in a total of 32 growing lambs. Lambs were either fed a control (barley and alfalfa ha) diet (control) or TMR (T1), TMR + 20% palm kernel meal (T2), TMR + palm kernel meal 20% + 4 mL/day malic acids (T3). The results showed that propionic acid in the rumen fluid increased in T1 and T3, while lactic acid increased in T2. Rumen and reticulum discoloration were improved in T3 while histomorphological features were higher in T3 and T2. We concluded that the addition of malic acid supplementation to lambs fed PKC caused a significant improvement in the rumen pH and decreased lactic acid concentration in growing Naemi lambs. ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of malic acid and 20% palm kernel meal (PKM) on ruminal characteristics. A total of 32 growing lambs were randomly distributed into control (barley and alfalfa ha), total mixed ration (T1), TMR + 20% PKM (T2), TMR + PKC 20% + 4 mL/day malic acids (T3). Lambs were fed these diets ad libitum for 84 days. The results showed that propionic acid in the rumen fluid increased significantly (p < 0.05) in T1 and T3. Lactic acid concentration of rumen fluid increased significantly (p < 0.05) in T2 while the pH increased significantly. The coloration of rumen and reticulum was improved in T3. In addition, most of the histomorphological features were higher in T3 and T2. We concluded that the addition of malic acid supplementation to lambs fed PKC caused a significant improvement in the rumen pH and decreased lactic acid concentration in growing Naemi lambs.