Abstract: Four goats with permanent rumen fistulae in 4×4 Latin square design were used to study the effect of malate (0, 5, 10, 15 g/d) on rumen fermentation of goats. The results showed that the pH and propionate percentage increased significantly in rumen (P<0.05), and the NH₃-N, lactate concentration and acetate to propionate ratio (A/P) decreased significantly in rumen (P<0.05). The lactate concentration in 5 g/d and 10 g/d malate groups decreased respectively by 31% (P<0.05) and 29% (P<0.05) at 8 h compared with the control. Both of 10 g/d and 15 g/d malate groups decreased the NH₃-N concentration by 30% (P<0.05) at 2 h compared with the control. Compared with the control, 10 g/d and 15 g/d malate groups decreased respectively average daily acetate to propionate ratio by 12% (P<0.05) and 22% (P<0.01). Average daily total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration of all malate groups had no significant change compared with the control. The results suggested that based diets supplemented with malate could improve rumen fermentation type and increase the use of lactate and NH₃-N.