The objective of this trial was to evaluate the increasing levels of soybean oil (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5% of diet dry matter), ethanolic extract of propolis (0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 mL/animal/day) and ground crude propolis (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 g/animal/day) on intake and ruminal metabolism (pH, ammonia N, VFA, and specific activity of ammonia production) in dairy goats. Six ruminally fistulated female Alpine goats were used in a completely randomized design with six experimental periods and two animals per treatment. Diets contained 67% of corn silage and 33% of concentrate composed by ground corn and soybean meal. There was no effect of the increasing levels of soybean oil, ethanolic extract of propolis and ground crude propolis on the measured variables. More research with propolis is needed because of its anti-microbial effects in vitro and its effects on reducing the acetate:propionate ratio and the butyrate concentration in the rumen.
ammonia; goat; pH; volatile fatty acids
