In vitro evaluation of medicinal plants including Artemisia aucheri Boiss, Salvia leriifolia Benth, Achilea santolina, and Nepeta glumerulosa in livestock diet

There are many medicinal plants in Iran that can be grazed by livestock. Due to lack of information about the nutritional value of some medicinal plants, this study aimed to investigate the chemical-mineral composition, buffering capacity and some digestive-fermentation parameters of medicinal species including Artemisia aucheri Boiss, Salvia leriifolia Benth, Achilea santolina and Nepeta glumerulosa by in vitro procedures. N. glumerulosa had the highest ADF (30.03%), NDF (46.46%), ADL (16.79%) and CF (32.87%) contents(p < 0.05). The highest crude protein (22.19%) and non-fiber carbohydrates (36.96%) were also related to A. santolina (p < 0.05). The calcium ranged from a high of 44.06 g/kgDM in S. leriifolia Benth to a low of 4.39 g/kgDM in A. santolina. The plants containing A. santolina (48.04 ml) and S. leriifolia Benth (39.72) also showed high potential gas production, respectively (p < 0.05). The highest dry matter digestibility (60%) belonged to A. santolina (p < 0.05). The range of metabolizable energy differed from 4.65 MJ/kg DM for A. aucheri Boiss to 7.29 MJ/kg DM for A. santolina. The ammonia nitrogen concentration (28.06-29.62 mg/dL) was not affected by the experimental treatments. The highest amount of pH (5.98) correlated to plant and acid-buffering capacity (212.12 mEq×10 -3 ) was observed in A. aucheri Boiss and S. leriifolia Benth species, respectively (p < 0.05). According to the available results, A. santolina had a higher nutritional value.