The objective ofthis study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different neutral detergentfiber levels derived from the forage (NDFf), on ruminal parameters (pH and ammonia)in dairy goats. Five non-lactating goats were used, with fistulae in the rumen.The animals were arranged in a 5 × 5 Latin square using the NDFf levels(19, 27, 35, 42 and 18%), as independent variables. The increase in the NDFflevels of the rations reduced linearly the coefficients of apparent digestibilityof DM, OM, EE and NSC and affected the NDF digestibility coefficient quadratically.The coefficients of ruminal digestibility of DM, OM and NDF increased linearlywith the variation in the NDFf levels. However, reduction was observed in thecoefficient of intestinal digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF. The increasein the NDFf contents and the collection times influenced the ruminal pH, butthe ruminal ammonia only affected by the collection times. The efficiency ofmicrobial protein synthesis, when expressed in g/kg TDN, was influenced by theincrease in NDFf levels, was best at the 29.57% NDFf level.
