Introduction: Mesquite is the dominant flora of southern Iran. Whole pod contains capsule and some seeds which its color, after ripen, is yellow and contains considerable protein and carbohydrate. One of the most important usage of this pod is as animal feed, because the ripen pod is palatable and has high nutritional value. This study was conducted to evaluate chemical composition, ruminal fermentation and digestibility of different parts of mesquite plant as a completely randomized design. Materials and Methods: Mesquite pod was collected from different areas of Hormozgan province. Whole pod, husk and seed were grounded separately. Chemical composition of different parts of mesquite pod (dry matter, organic matter, ash, ether extract, crude protein, non fiber carbohydrate, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and lignin) was separately determined. In vitro gas production test (IVGPT) was conducted at two parts. For this purpose, rumen fluid was obtained from three fistulated rams before the morning feeding. The rams were fed twice daily with a diet containing alfalfa hay and commercial concentrate to meet their requirements. The collected ruminal fluid was pooled in a flask and was transported under anaerobic conditions to the laboratory. Rumen fluid was filtered through four layers cheesecloth and then mixed continuously with CO2 and maintained at 39 o C before the usage. After pre-incubation, the rumen fluid was mixed with buffered mineral solution at the ratio of 1: 2 rumen fluid to mineral buffer (V/V). At first part of IVGPT to evaluate kinetics of ruminal fermentation at different incubation time (120 hours), 200 mg of dried and grounded sample was transfer to glass syringe. Syringes were filled with 30 ml of medium (consisting of 10 ml of rumen fluid and 20 ml of buffer solution). The values of produced gas at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after incubation time were determined. At second part of IVGPT, 500 mg sample with 40 ml medium incubated for 24 hour and amount of produced gas, apparent dry matter digestibility, true organic matter digestibility and partitioning factor of samples were measured. Total gas production of each syringe (at first and second parts of IVGPT) was corrected for blank which contained only rumen fluid. Two stages in vitro digestibility was done. Different parts of protein in whole pod and husk were estimated based on CNCPS method. Results and Discussion: Results showed that there were significant differences for chemical compositions of different parts of mesquite pod except for dry matter (DM) and acid detergent fiber (P<0. 05). As seed had highest values of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and lignin (P<0. 05). Percentages of crude protein in whole pod, husk and seed were 12. 15, 10. 65 and 36. 53 respectively. But difference between whole pod and husk was not significant. No significant difference of crude protein content of whole pods and husk is probably due to low weight of seeds in the pod (percentage of seeds in pod was 7. 5 percent). Volume of produced gas at 120 hours incubation (GP120) and the potential of gas production (b) for husk were significantly higher than those of other parts (P<0. 05). The highest amounts of partitioning factor and produced microbial protein were observed in seed. Husk had highest value of short chain fatty acid (SCFA). In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in vitro digestible organic matter in dry matter (IVDOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) were significantly higher in seed compared to other parts (P<0. 05). No significant difference was observed between the whole pod and husk. Protein components in different parts of mesquite pod showed very significant differences (P<0. 01). Concentration of soluble protein (SP), non protein nitrogen (A) and highly degradable protein (B1) were significantly higher in husk than whole pod (P<0. 05). Protein bonded to NDF (NIDP) in different parts of pod showed significant differences (P<0. 05). Concentration of soluble protein (SP), non protein nitrogen (A) and protein with highly rates of degradation (B1) were significantly higher in husk than those of whole pod (P<0. 01). Soluble and non-structural carbohydrates participate in supply of energy for ruminal microbes and due to high rumen protein degradation, ammonia nitrogen produced is increased. Part A includes small molecules that contain peptides, free amino acids, nucleic acids, amides, amines, nitrates and ammonia. The higher amount of the true protein in feed, the lower amount of part A. Husk has more part A than other two parts of the pod (seed and whole pod), so it contains lower true protein compared to other parts of the pod. The reason for the high protein bonded to NDF (NIDP) in the whole pods compared to husk is probably due to the higher content of crude protein in the whole pod compared to husk so more links between cell wall and protein nitrogen. The higher the NIDP content in a feed, the higher potential for bypass protein. Conclusion: Overall results showed that when considering chemical composition, digestibility and ME, mesquite has relatively high nutritional value. Considering the southern Iran’ s climate and the fact that mesquite is the dominant flora of this part of Iran, mesquite can be used as a part of diet for ruminants.

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of sun dried and ensiled pistachio by-product (PBP) on fermentation and methane emission in the rumen using an in vitro batch fermentation system. For this purpose, fresh PBP were ensiled into a trench silo without any additives and simultaneously some sun dried PBP were prepared. After 3 month, the ensiled PBP samples were freeze-dried and then chemical analysis was conducted for both samples. All samples were incubated with four replications using buffered rumen fluid for 24 hours. Two positive controls (i. e., oaten chaff and commercial concentrate) were included in the assay as standards to detect differences. At the end of incubation gas pressure, pH and total volatile fatty acids were used as indicators of overall sample fermentability, and concentrations of methane, ammonia, acetate and propionate indicated changes in fermentation end products. The result showed that the ensiled PBP had lower aNDFom and water soluble carbohydrates but greater in phenolic compounds compared with the sun dried PBP. Gas production were lower (P<0. 01) in sun dried and ensiled pistachio by-products than the oaten chaff and commercial concentrate, although the amounts of volatile fatty acids and ammonia for both PBPwere lower (P<0. 01) than the commercial concentrate. The lowest acetate to propionate ratio and the highest pH were in ensiled PBPhowever, a significant reduction (P<0. 01) in methane emission was observed with both PBP samples in comparison to the positive controls. In general, these findings indicate that PBP has a great potential to decrease methane mitigation and can used as a new alternative for modify of rumen fermentation.

An in vitro gas production technique was used to evaluate the effects of different adsorbents on the gas pro-duction parameters of lead-exposed diet. Ruminal fluid, obtained from fistulated sheep (3-4 years of age and 40±5 kg BW), and experimental diets samples, 200 ± 0.2 mg DM, were incubated in 100 mL glass bot-tles. To each bottle, one of the following treatments was applied: 1) control (no Pb and adsorbent), 2) 15 mg/kg DM Pb as Pb acetate and no adsorbent, 3) 15 mg/kg DM Pb as Pb acetate and 3% activated carbon, 4) 15 mg/kg DM Pb as Pb acetate and 3% nanoclay and 5) 15 mg/kg DM Pb as Pb acetate and 3% ben-tonite. Supplementation of ruminal medium with 15 ppm Pb significantly (P<0.01) decreased total and rate of gas production at all incubation times. Rate and total gas production were significantly (P<0.05) higher for nanoclay compared to control and the other adsorbents treatments. Lead inclusion decreased organic matter digestibility (OMD), net and metabolizable energy contents and short chain fatty acids production (P<0.01). Among the adsorbents, nanoclay showed to be more effective on ruminanl fermentation parame-ters and improved rate and total gas production.

Background and objectives: Antibiotics have long been widely used to stimulate growth and prevent disease in animals. But, concerns about bacterial resistance and gastrointestinal malformations have prompted nutritionists to look for alternatives. Probiotics and ruminal growth promoter are among them. Probiotics are viable microorganisms that their use by ruminants has beneficial effects on the growth and microbial population balance of the rumen and will improve animal performance by improving feed conversion ratio. Calves are exposed to a variety of stressful events at birth due to defects in the immune system and underdevelopment of the digestive tract. Because of this, stimulation of rumen development, microbial population balance, and transfer of calves from the single gastric to the ruminant state are necessary. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of probiotic additive and ruminal growth promoter on feed intake, weight gain, skeletal growth indices, health, and blood metabolites of young dairy calves. Materials and methods: In this study, twenty four Holstein female calves immediately after birth were used in a completely randomized design (four treatments and six replicates). Calves after birth were randomly assigned into one of four treatments as follow: 1) control (milk without any probiotic or ruminal growth promoter), 2) calves receiving probiotic additive, 3) calves receiving or ruminal growth promoter, and 4) calves receiving probiotic additive + ruminal growth promoter. Measurement of dry matter intake and fecal scoring were done daily. Calves were weighed once every 15 days. Blood samples were collected at 21 and 45 days of age, three hours after morning feeding. Ruminal fluid was collected four hours after morning feeding on days 21 and 45 to measure pH and ammoniacal nitrogen. Skeletal growth indices were measured every 15 days up to 90 days. The data obtained from this study were analyzed according to completely randomized design and repeated measurements. Results: Results showed that probiotic and ruminal growth promoter supplementation had no significant effect on body weight, body weight gain changes and average body weight gain (P>0. 05). There was no significant difference between control calves and those fed with probiotic and ruminal growth promoter in terms of skeletal growth indices (P>0. 05). Fecal consistency score was higher in control than other treatments (P>0. 05). Probiotic and ruminal growth promoter supplementation decreased ammoniacal nitrogen concentration on days of 21 and 45 (P<0. 05). Treatments had no significant effect on blood concentration of glucose, cholesterol, urea and BHBA (P>0. 05). However, concentration of triglyceride, total protein and albumin was different among the treatments (P<0. 05). Conclusions: Totally, The results of this study showed that Probiotic and ruminal growth promoter supplementation had no noticeable effect on the studied parameters.

Introduction: Rumen microbial manipulation has been of interest to ruminant nutritionists in order to achieve improvement in the profitability and health of lactating cows. Concerns regarding the use of antibiotics and other growth stimulants in animal feed industry have caused attention to find other alternative agents to replace antibiotics. For these reasons, in ruminant, microbial cultures have been used to replace antibiotics to enhance milk production in dairy cattle and improve feed efficiency and daily gain in beef cattle. Rumen bacteria, that have ability to ferment carbohydrate, are primarily responsible for causing lactic acidosis in ruminant. Propionibacteria are natural inhabitants of the rumen that comprise 1. 4 % of the ruminal microflora and produce propionic and acetic acid in the rumen. Therefore, propionibacteria have been used as a direct-fed microbial to prevent the risk of acidosis in feedlot cattle. Last studies have reported that combinations of propionic bacteria and lactobacilli resulted in increased average daily gain and improved feed efficiency in feedlot cattle. The purpose of this study were preparation of live bacterial culture in laboratory and investigate the effect of adding live bacterial culture on digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters on in vitro condition. Materials and Methods: Three in vitro experiments designed in order to determine the effects of bacteria strains supplementation on dry matter and organic matter digestibility, pH, VFA and ammonia nitrogen concentration. Bacterial pure strains were Propioni bacterium freudenreichii and Enterococcus faecium. Stock cultures of freeze-dried strains were individually inoculated into 5 mL Brain Heart infusion (BHI) and sodium lactate broth (SLB) respectively and incubated at 37 ° C for 24 h under anaerobic conditions. By pour plating serial 10 fold dilutions (in sterile ringer’ s solution) on demand, Rogosa, sharp agar and SLB agar plates were incubated anaerobically at 37 ° C for 48h. 10 8 cfu /ml of culture were produced after 24 and 36 h of culturing. Rumen fluid was collected 3 h after morning feeding from three ruminally fistulated sheep with mean body weight of 45+2. 5 kg. Buffer was prepared as proposed by Goering and Van Soest (1970). In an anaerobic condition, 50 ml of buffered rumen fluid (ratio of buffer to rumen fluid was 1: 1), was dispensed into a 100 ml serum bottle containing 0. 5 g DM of the experimental diet (four replicate) for each experimental incubation time (2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h). The experimental treatments were: CON) control (basal diet without any additive), P) basal diet inoculated with 10 8 cfu Propionibacteria feriderinrichii, E) basal diet inoculated with 10 8 cfu Enterococcus faecium and P+E) basal diet inoculated with 10 8 cfu Propionibacteria fredrinrichii + Enterococcus faecium. Rumen fluid was collected before morning feeding from three ruminally fistulated sheep. In all experiments a diet based on concentrate were used with the ratio 90: 10 of concentrate to forage. In the second experiment 1 mL sucrose (10% w/w) injected to the diet and in third experiment pH adjusted to 5. 5 at the beginning of experiment. After 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h of the incubation, the bottles were respectively transferred to an ice bath to stop fermentation and then opened to measure medium pH using a pH meter (Metrhom pH meter, Model 691). Then, each bottle content was filtered (42 μ m pore size) and a 5 ml sample of each filtrate bottle was taken and acidified with 5 ml of 0. 2 N HCl and frozen at-20° C. for analyzing VFA by gas chromatography, 4 mL of each filtrate bottle were stabilized with 4 mL meta-phosphoric acid Liquid effluent was collected in flasks containing a solution of H2SO4 to maintain pH values below 2, and samples were taken for volatile fatty acids The filtrated residual was oven dried (60 ° C for 48 h) and used to calculate in vitro dry matter and organic matter disappearances. Results and Discussion: DM and OM digestibility for all treatments increased during incubation. Control treatment had lowest DM digestibility. Changes in OM digestibility was in same manner with DM digestibility in all treatments and control had lowest OM digestibility significantly. In comparison with initial pH, treatments control, Propionibacterium fredrinrichii, enterococcus faecium and mixed of Propionibacterium fredrinrichii + Enterococcus faecium had decreased 0. 91, 0. 73, 0. 76 and 0. 58 unit, respectively. NH3-N concentration after 2h after incubation was low in all treatments and increased during incubation, but for control it was low in compare with other treatments during incubation. Adding bacterial culture had significantly effect on VFA concentration. There was significantly difference among treatments on acetate: propionate ratio and treatments 2 and 4 had lowest ratio. Conclusion: Generally, DM and OM digestibility and VFA concentration can be affected positively and significantly by live bacterial cultures additives. These changes would be associated with the stabilization of rumen pH and provide favorable conditions for microorganisms'activity in the rumen.

Six rumen fistulated adult sheep were used to assess the effect of tannins (hydrolysable tannin; HTs) in oak leaves (Quercus Libani Oliv.) on ruminal fermentation parameters in a change-over design experiment for 28 days in 3 periods. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to deactivate the tannins. The three dietary treatments were control (alfalfa hay, barley grain, wheat bran, wheat straw); OL (oak leave, barley grain, wheat bran and urea) and OL+80 g PEG. Animals were held in individual pens and metabolism cages. They were adapted to experimental conditions for 21 days before the commencement of the measurement periods. In each period, the digestibilities of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), NDF (NDFD), crude protein (CPD) and ruminal parameters (pH, ammonia, bacteria and protozoa population), and microbial protein synthesis were measured using urinary purine derivatives in sheep. The DMD, OMD, NDFD and CPD were decreased by oak leaves and the addition of PEG improved CPD (P<0.05). The ruminal pH values for all diets were within the normal range. Ruminal ammonia was similar among the treatments (p>0.05). Hydrolysable tannins in OL diets decreased (P<0.05) urinary allantoin in comparison to the control diet. Addition of PEG increased (P<0.05) allantoin. The uric acid, xanthine and hypoxanthine excretion in urine were not affected by the diet. Feeding OL diet decreased the microbial N in sheep, whereas addition of PEG improved it. The total protozoa count in sheep offered OL diet declined in comparison to those fed the control diet; however, addition of PEG had no effect on it. Sheep fed OL diet had significantly less cellulolytic and proteolytic bacteria than those fed the control diet (P<0.05), but improved (P<0.05) with feeding of PEG along with OL. It was concluded that diets containing Q. Libani leaves had lower ruminal fermentability than diet containing alfalfa and that supplementation of PEG in OL diet improved the fermentability.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different exogenous enzymes or their combination on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation of Holstein cows. Five ruminally cannulated adult Holstein cows were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design and received the same basal diet consisting of 30% of corn silage and 70% of concentrate but with inclusion of different exogenous enzymes comprising five treatments (control: diet without enzymes,amylase: basal diet with 7. 5 g of amylase/cow/day,xylanase: basal diet with 15 g of xylanase/cow/day,cellulase + protease: basal diet with 7. 5 g cellulase + protease/cow/day, and enzyme pool: basal diet with 30 g enzyme mixture (7. 5 g of amylase, 15 g of xylanase and 7. 5 g of cellulase + protease)/cow/day). Accordingly, the experiment was conducted in five periods of 23 days each. Therefore, data were collected to evaluate nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters. The different exogenous enzymes or their combination (enzyme pool) did not affect (P>0. 05) nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH, protozoa population, ammonia nitrogen and methane concentration and production. The enzyme combination and cellulase + protease increased (P<0. 05) the concentration and production of acetate and propionate as well as total short-chain fatty acids, but did not significantly affect the relative energy loss of methane concering the other rumen fermentation products (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Therefore, the dietary supplementation of different exogenous enzymes or their combination in Holstein cows did not improve feed value, but the enzyme combination has shown a tendency to reduce the relative energy loss of methane.

This study was conducted to compare the effect of organic versus inorganic sources of trace elements (Zn, Cu, Mn and Co) on nutrient digestibility in lambs and in vitro gas production parameters. In experiment 1, 18 Zandi male lambs (initial body weight (BW), 28. 5±, 1. 4 kg) were randomly assigned to either a basal diet with no trace mineral supplement (control diet), basal diet supplemented with trace minerals sulfates, basal diet supplemented with mineral-amino acid complex. In experiment 2, in vitro gas production was used to estimate in vitro fermentation parameters of the experimental treatments. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein (CP) were not affected by treatments. However, supplementation with either mineral supplements decreased digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P<0. 05). Organic mineral supplementation decreased rate of gas production (P<0. 05), however asymptotic gas production (b) and effective digestibility were not different among the groups. Results of this study show that supplementation of trace elements does not affect the in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters and nutrients digestibility.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of pistachio by-product (PBP) extracts supplemented with alfalfa hay (AH) or barley grain (BG) on microbial fer-mentation in an in vitro fermentation system. The total extracted phenolic compounds were 36.96, 65.78, 67.02 and 8.85% and total extracted tannin contents were 37.11, 59.64, 56.87 and 7.55% when PBP was extracted with water, ethanol 70%, methanol 80% and a mixture of chloroform and metha-nol, respectively. Adding the mixture of chloroform and methanol extracts to both substrates reduced the gas production (P<0.01). Most of PBP extracts caused a significant reduction (P<0.01) in ruminal ammonia compared to controls with both substrates while, the effects of PBP extracts on ammonia production were greater for BG than AH based substrate. The concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were higher (P<0.01) in all solvent extracts compared to control (except the low level of methanol PBP extract) with both substrates. Furthermore, in both substrates there was no decrease in methane productions with the addition of all extracts compared to controls. In conclusion, some of PBP extracts may have a favourable effect on rumen fermentation parameters such as gas production, ruminal ammonia and VFAs concentrations and they can also assist in developing novel feed addi-tives for decreasing the nitrogen excretion in the ruminants.