Nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation and performance as ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is increased in the diets of goats

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the variations in nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, serum biochemical parameters, and performance resulting from an increase in the proportion of ramie ( Boehmeria nivea ) substitution for alfalfa in the diets of goats. In a completely randomized block design, thirty-two Liuyang black goats were divided into two blocks according to body weight (BW) (light, BW: 16.7 ± 1.72 kg; and heavy, BW: 26.6 ± 2.95 kg). Then, the sixteen goats in each block were further randomly divided into four subgroups that randomly accepted four treatments, i.e., alfalfa was replaced by ramie at 0%, 35%, 70% and 100%. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of gross energy (GE) (linear, p 0.05) by the inclusion of ramie. The concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) in the rumen fluid decreased (linear, p