Dairy cattle need adequate fiber in the diet for normal rumen health, and this fiber provides energy. Inadequate fiber results in reduced ruminal pH, reduced fiber digestibility, and reduced animal performance. Source of the fiber affects the amount of rumination and the formation of the fiber mat in the rumen. Fiber digestibility differs because of the chemical characteristics of fiber and the associative effects with other dietary components. There are certainly differences in how the fiber from forages versus by-products affects ruminal fermentation, but there are also differences among forages. These differences in sources of fiber will be discussed and their affects on animal performance.
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