Kinetics of ruminal degradation of wheat and potato starches in total mixed rations.

Wheat and potato are rich in starch but their starches differ in their rate of ruminal degradation. Kinetics of in sacco disappearance and profiles of ruminal fermentation were studied for these two concentrates in total mixed rations based on grass silage or corn silage. Wheat starch was more rapidly (34%/h) degraded by rumen microorganisms than potato starch (5%/h). The differences in starch degradation in sacco were found again in the VFA concentrations, mainly in grass silage-based diets. Overall ruminal pH, total VFA concentration, and proportions of acetate, propionate, and butyrate are more variable for wheat during the kinetic (amplitude and quickness) than for potato in grass silage-based diets. In these diets, risks of acidosis were more elevated with wheat than with potato but the VFA concentrations were also higher. These differences of fermentation profile were so reduced in corn silage-based diets that, in this case, wheat can be substituted by potato without any effect on digestion and no risk of acidosis.