a. sarmadi

This experiment was carried out to determine the nutritive value of total mixed ration silage (TMRS) based on orange pulp (OP). Three diets including: 1) TMRS based on OP plus wheat straw (WS) and concentrate, 2) total mixed ration based on corn silage (CS) plus WS and concentrate, 3) total mixed ration based on alfalfa hay (AH) plus WS and concentrate. The experimental diets were tested for digestibility and voluntary intake in mature male lambs. The DM content of TMRS ranged 28 to 28.5 percent and pH 3.8 to 3.9 that shwed appropriate characteristics of the silage. The in vivo digestibility of DM, OM and metabolisable energy of the TMRS were significantly higher than the other diets (P<0.05). The DM and OM intake, were significantly differences between the diets where the lowest amounts detected by feeding CS diet. The digestible DM and OM intake were significantly higher in TMRS than the other diets (P<0.05). Data obtained from rumen liquor showed that pH was not different between the treatments at different times. The ruminal NH3-N was higher in CS diet before morning feeding but it was not different between TMRS and CS diets at 3h post feeding werase they were higher than the other diet (P<0.05). No differences were obtained between the diets for NH3-N at 6h post feeding. It is concluded that by ensiling of orange pulp plus WS and concentrate could prepare a complete feed ration silage with nutrient balance and appropriate digestibility and palatability.

Fresh orange pulp (FCP) mixed with wheat straw (WS) 79:20 plus 0.7% urea, 0.1% diammonium sulfate (DAMS) and 0.2% mineral-vitamin supplement (MVS) as a basal treatment (T1). Then WS reduced to 15%+5% sugar beet pulp (SBP) T2, WS15%+5% corn ground (CG) T3, WS15%+ 5% corn bran (CB) T4, and WS15%+ 5%rice bran (RB) T5. In T6 WS reduced to 10% and completed with SBP, CG, CB and RB in amounts of 4:2:2:2 percent respectively. All mixtures were ensiled in small scale plastic bag silos with four replicates. All silos were opened four months’ post ensiling and sampled for chemical analyses, in vitro gas test and digestibility. Dry matter content ranged 28.43 to 31.01 percent and pH 3.95 to 4.07 that were significantly different between the treatments (p<.05). Crude protein ranged 12.16 to 15.59 percent that was the lowest in T1 but the highest in T6 (p<.05). Ammonia-N ranged 6.32 to 10.63 percent of total nitrogen that was different between the treatments (p<.05). Reducing of WS and including of concentrate feeds in the treatments reduced NDF from 59.48 to 46.96 percent (p<.05) but increased gas production, organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) with highest values in T6. It is concluded that by formulating a mixture of FOP, WS, SBP, CG, CB, RB, Urea, DAMS and VMS in ratio of 79:10:4:2:2:2:0.7:0.1:0.2 may prepared a TMR silage with acceptable silage characteristics. However, more research needs to determine the feeding values through in vivo and feeding trials.

Fresh citrus pulp (FCP) was mixed with wheat straw (WS) 90:10 and ensiled in three treatments 1) 0.0% urea, 2) 0.5% urea and 3) 1% urea, using 40 kg nylon bags. After three months of ensiling, silos were evaluated and sampled for chemical analysis and in vitro gas test. In vivo digestibility and intake of the silages were determined in sheep nutrition along with basal diet (Alfalfa hay+WS+barley ground). Dry matter (DM) ranged 19.32 to 21.15% and pH 3.59 to 3.74 in silages. Crude protein and NH3-N were increased (P<0.05) in silages contained urea. There were no significant differences between silages for gas production. The in vivo digestibility of DM, OM and NDF, and ME were similar between the basal diet and the experimental diets as well as the experimental silages. However, digestibility of CP was increased in silages contained 0.5 and 1% urea (P<0.05). An increasing trend was observed for DM intake where the animals received ad-libitum silages than the basal diet. Daily urine weight and urine pH was increased (P<0.05) when the animals fed 1% urea silage, comparison to the other diets but, ruminal pH was not affected by the treatments. Finally, it is concluded that ensiling of FCP plus WS to provide a mixture with optimum DM content may be an appropriate method of preserving and using of this by product in ruminant nutrition. In addition, deficiency of CP could be compensated by addition of proper amount of urea.