We evaluated the lotus rhizome as a potential ruminant feed by investigating its compositional properties, in situ degradation profile and in vitro fermentation characteristics with ruminal microbes, in comparison with cereal grains (corn, barley and wheat). The antioxidative activities in the lotus rhizome were also estimated. The soluble fraction of dry matter in lotus tuber was >70%, which was higher than those in the grains. The insoluble fraction in lotus tuber was not degraded by ruminal microbes in accord with a first-order reaction. In an in vitro experiment, lotus tuber showed lower fermentation at 8 hr compared to the grains, but exhibited higher productions of gas and VFA at 48 hr along with a lower lactate and higher pH. The lower value of final lactate production in lotus tuber, indicating the metabolic capacity for lactate utilization retained, suggests a lower risk of ruminal acidosis compared to grains. Lotus rhizome had high antioxidant activities, with the foliar bud showing the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power, followed in order by the apical bud, node, residual tuber, edible tuber, and nodal root. For ruminants, the lotus rhizome could thus be not only an energy feed but also the source of natural antioxidants.

中文翻译：

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莲rh根茎的原位瘤胃降解和体外发酵特性以及抗氧化活性。

通过与谷物（玉米，大麦和小麦）相比，我们通过研究荷花根茎的成分特性，原位降解谱和瘤胃微生物的体外发酵特性，将其作为潜在的反刍动物饲料。还估计了荷花根茎中的抗氧化活性。莲tube中干物质的可溶性比例> 70％，高于籽粒中的。符合一级反应的瘤胃微生物不会降解莲tube中的不溶部分。在体外实验中，与块茎相比，块茎在8小时时发酵程度较低，但在48小时时产生的气体和VFA产量较高，同时乳酸含量较低且pH较高。莲tube中最终乳酸的生产价值较低，指示保留了乳酸利用的代谢能力，表明与谷物相比，瘤胃酸中毒的风险较低。莲花根茎具有较高的抗氧化活性，叶芽显示出最强的铁还原性抗氧化能力，其次为顶芽，节，残留块茎，可食用块茎和节根。对于反刍动物而言，荷根茎不仅可以作为能量饲料，而且可以作为天然抗氧化剂的来源。