m. chaji

The use of highly concentrated rations in the fattening of ruminant animals is done to improve the performance per unit of feed consumption. Increasing the amount of concentrate in the ration improves the food conversion ratio and the weight gain of fattening lambs, and the production of volatile fatty acids. However, some in vivo experiments have reported that long-term use of highly concentrated diets is not always associated with increased performance. Therefore, feeding diets containing high amounts of concentrate (with a limited amount of effective fiber) often leads to metabolic disorders, the most important of which is subacute ruminal acidosis which causes a decrease in dry matter consumption and reduces the fiber digestibility, milk fat, lameness, and liver abscess, and even leads to the death of the animal. Moreover, sub-acute acidosis leads to significant economic losses. Therefore, preventive measures to prevent acidosis and improve starch digestion, such as the use of antibiotics, probiotics, and buffers, have been taken into consideration. Lactate-consuming bacteria metabolize lactic acid and control its accumulation in the rumen. This process is important when the animal diet contains a large amount of grain. Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium are the dominant strains that consume lactic acid in the rumen, and among these two strains, Megasphaer alsdeni consumes 65 to 95% of the lactate in the rumen. The use of biological methods in controlling pH changes can also reduce the dependence of livestock on chemical additives to some extent. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted to compare the effect of different chemical and biological buffers (acid-consuming bacteria) on the digestion and fermentation of highly concentrated diets.
The experimental treatments included: 1. The control diet (without additives and containing 70% concentrate + 30% fodder or basal diet), 2. Basal diet + 3 mL of bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii (bacteria- 4.5 × 108 cfu/3mL), 3. Basal diet + 1% sodium bentonite, 4. Basal diet + 1% sodium bentonite + 3 mL of bacteria, 5. Basal diet + 1% sodium bicarbonate, 6. Basal diet + 1% sodium bicarbonate + 3 mL bacteria, 7. Basal diet + 1% magnesium oxide, 8. Basal diet + 1% magnesium oxide + 3 mL bacteria, 9. Basal diet + 1% zeolite, 10. Basal diet + 1% zeolite + 3 mL bacteria, 11. Basal diet + 1% sodium sesquicarbonate, and 12. Basal diet + 1% sodium-sesquicarbonate + 3 mL bacteria. Megasphaera elsdenii bacteria were isolated and prepared from Najdi goats at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan (Ahvaz, Iran) and their activity was investigated in experiments. In gas production experiments, the experimental samples were ground with a mill containing a 1 mL sieve. About 200 mg of the dry matter of the desired sample was weighed and poured into 100 mL vials, and eight replicates were considered for each treatment. The produced gas of the samples was recorded at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours of incubation using a digital barometer.
The effect of experimental treatments on potential and rate of gas production, partitioning factor, microbial biomass production, microbial biomass production efficiency, pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, apparent dry matter digestibility, and protozoa population was significant (P<0.05), and except for ammonia nitrogen, all parameters in buffer treatments were higher than the control. The highest gas production potential (68.26 mg), microbial biomass production (1212.31 mg), and microbial biomass production efficiency (79%) were observed in the treatment containing sodium bicarbonate + bacteria (P<0.05). The highest pH and ammonia nitrogen were for the treatment containing bacteria (6.60) and control (27.30 mg/100 mL). The total protozoa population was the highest in the treatment of sodium bentonite + bacteria.
In general, the results of the present experiment showed that the use of buffers improved digestion and fermentation conditions, and each of the buffers had a greater effect on one or more parameters than the others. In addition, acid-consuming bacteria as a pH regulator had competitive effects with chemical buffers, especially bicarbonate buffer, and even better in some cases. The effect of some chemical buffers used in the present experiment, such as bicarbonate, has been further investigated, but the effect of other chemical and biological buffers mentioned in the present experiment on the digestive and fermentation properties of ruminant animals has been investigated less. Therefore, it is recommended to investigate the effect of chemical buffers used in the present experiment alone or together with acid-consuming bacteria in feeding ruminant animals.

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the electron beam (beam) and low-pressure steam (steam) treatments on the nutritional value of date kernel powder for ruminants. At first, date kernel powders were irradiated with the beam at doses of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 KGy. A part of the irradiated date kernels was then treated with steam (134 ᵒC, 40 min.). Digestion and fermentation of date kernel powder were measured using gas production and two-step digestion techniques. Compared to the control, beam or steam resulted in a decrease in NDF and ADF percentages (P<0.05), a significant increase in potential and rate of gas production, partitioning factor, truly degradable organic matter, and in vitro digestibility of dry matter, NDF, and ADF of date kernel (P<0.05), and the 100 KGy had the best performance (P<0.05). Overall, the treatment with steam or electron beam alone improved the nutritional value of the date kernel, but treatment with steam after beam did not have a positive additive effect. Therefore, the results of the present experiment indicate that beam alone has a great capacity for improving the nutritional value of the date kernel, and the use of steam after the beam has failed to make more improvement.

The present experiment was conducted to improve the feeding value of the date kernel and investigate its effect on the digestibility and performance of finishing lambs. The Thirty-two 6 ± 1-month-old Arabi male lambs with an average weight of 29±2 kg were assigned to four treatments with eight repeats. The experimental treatments were 1. Control (without date kernel powder), 2.A diet containing untreated date kernel powder, 3 and 4. Diets containing date kernel powder treated with alkaline hydrogen peroxide 1%, and 2%, respectively. Feed consumption, finishing performance, nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and chewing activity of lambs were measured. The results of the present experiment showed that feed consumption was the same among treatments. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral and acid detergent fiber were the lowest amount in treatment containing untreated date kernel powder (P<0.05). There was no significant difference among treatments for daily weight gain, final weight, and feed conversion ratio. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was decreased in treatments two and three and pH was decreased in treatments two, three, and four compared to control treatment (P<0.05). The concentrations of blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride were not affected by experimental treatments. The total protozoa population of the rumen and Entodiniums spp. were the least in treatment two (P<0.05). Although the digestibility of raw date kernel powder treated with both levels of alkaline hydrogen peroxide improved, it was not as expected. Therefore, because the use of date kernel had no significant adverse effects on nutrients digestibility, finishing performance traits, also abundant and low price of date kernel in comparison to corn silage and other feed ingredients, it is possible to recommend it up to 15% in diets of finishing lambs.

Oak nut is containing 55% starch and can be used as an energy source in the ruminant nutrition. In addition to nutritional compounds, oak nut contains high amounts of active biological compounds, such as tannin, gallic acid, galloyl or hexahydroxy decanol derivatives. Tannins form complexes with a large number of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, polysaccharides, bacterial cell membranes, digestive enzymes, and minerals, but decrease microbial digestion in the rumen. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of oak nut on the population and digestive activity of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa counts in the rumen of Najdi goat and Arabi sheep. For this purpose, six Najdi goats and six Arabi sheep (average weight 35 ± 2 kg) were fed with a diet containing oak nut (63 %) and a diet without oak nut for 28 days. Iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated according to NRC, in diet 30:70 forage to concentrate (3 animals per treatment). Samples of rumen fluid were collected before the morning feeding. Then, digestive activity of rumen bacteria and fungi, fermentation parameters, and protozoa counts of animals which fed with experimental diets were determined. Growth and digestive activity of rumen bacteria and fungi were determined by measuring DM, NDF and ADF disappearance in specific culture for each incubation time (9 replicates for each treatment). Gas production and fermentation parameters by fungi and bacteria were determined. The protozoa count, genus, and species were identified on the basis of Yanez Ruiz et al (2004). Cumulative gas production data were fitted into the exponential equation: Y = b (1 − e−ct), where b = gas production from the fermentable fraction (mL), c= the gas production rate constant (mL/h), t = the incubation time (h), and Y = gas produced in time t. Partitioning factor (PF), microbial biomass, and truly digested organic matter were calculated by Olivera (1998). For determination of partitioning factor (PF) at the end of each incubation period, the content of vials was transferred into an Erlenmeyer flask, mixed with 20 mL neutral detergent fiber solution, boiled for 1 hour, filtered, dried (in oven at 60 °C for 48 h), and ashed. The data were subjected to analysis as a split plot design using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (version 9.1). The Duncan’s multiple range test was used to compare the mean differences at P<0.05. The disappearance of DM, NDF, and ADF by goat rumen bacteria at 24, 48 and 72 h were significantly higher in the control group than oak nut treatment (P<0.05). According to the results, there were no significant differences for the disappearance of DM, NDF, and ADF by the sheep and goat rumen fungi between the control group and oak nut treatment at 1, 3, and 6 days of incubation (P>0.05). The disappearance of DM, NDF, and ADF by the rumen fungi was not different between treatments at all times of incubation (P<0.05). The gas production potential of wheat straw, PF, microbial biomass production, the efficiency of microbial biomass, and truly digested organic matter by the rumen bacteria and fungi of sheep and goats did not have any significant differences in control treatment compared with oak nut treatment (P>0.05). Truly digested organic matter in the control treatment were higher than oak nut treatment (P<0.05). The PF by rumen fungi of sheep in diets containing oak nut was higher than goats, while the truly digested organic matter by the rumen fungi of goats was higher than the control diet in sheep (P<0.05). The total population of protozoa and Holotriches species was deceased in oak nut treatment (P<0.05). The population of goat rumen bacteria and fungi in control group was higher than that in control sheep group. The phenolic compounds (tannins) in diets containing oak nut decreased fibrolytic enzyme activity, inhibited carbohydrates fermentation, and consequently decreased fiber digestibility by rumen microorganism (Tavendale et al. 2005). Tannins can reduce microorganism adhesion to nutrients; inhibit microbial activity which has negative effects on fermentation and methane production. But, the increase of gas production rate by oak nut is due to higher soluble carbohydrate and lower NDF and ADF in diets containing oak nut, which increases the digestibility (Hadi et al. 2003). Phenols may disrupt protozoal membranes, inactivate protozoal enzymes, and deprive protozoa of substrates and metal ions, which are essential for protozoa cell metabolism (Calsamiglia et al. 2007). Based on the results, using 63% oak nut caused a decrease in microbial population, a decrease in the disappearance of nutrients and fermentation parameters of bacteria and fungi and a decline in the rumen protozoa population of Arabi sheep and Najdi goat. Also, the results showed higher tolerance of goats to the diet's tannin.

Red meat is one of the best dietary sources of fat and protein for humans. The fatty acid composition of meat has long been studied, but still receives a lot of attention in research because of its implications for human health. Besides a lower total fat intake, human nutritionists are recommending a higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and especially of n-3 fatty acids at the expense of n-6 fatty acids. Numerous animal feeding trials have been carried out using different species and breeds aiming at bringing the polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio of meat closer to the recommended value (>0.7), as well as for the n-6/n-3 ratio (<5). Sugar beet pulp (SBP) contains 70% carbohydrates mainly as neutral detergent soluble fiber, which has high water-binding capacity and a slow fermentation rate in rumen compared to the barley grain. Replacing barley with SBP may overcome digestive disorders such as acidosis problem and lead to the utilization of dietary energy towards animal growth, carcass gain, and muscle intramuscular fat deposition. On the other hand, feeds containing fats and oils are being used in animal diets to increase energy density and to manipulate intramuscular fat content and fatty acid composition of the meat. Canola seed contains approximately 40 to 43 % oil in which oleic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid contribute to 61, 20 and 10%, respectively. High fat content of canola seed makes it an attractive feedstuff to improve energy density of diets for finishing lambs grown in dry regions, where pasture availability is low. To our knowledge, information containing the effects of SBP as a slow fermentable carbohydrate source with an inclusion of roasted canola seed on growth performance and meat quality characteristics of fattening lambs is not investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects SBP with or without RCS in a high concentrate diet on performance and muscle composition of Arabian fattening lambs. This experiment was approved by the Animal Care and Ethics Committee of Ramin University of Livestock Research. In this study, twenty-four Arabian male lambs, 4 months old, (23.7±2.5 kg; mean initial BW±SD) were kept in individualcages (1.4×1.2 m). The fattening period was 99 d including 14 d as adaptation period. At the start of the adaptation period, all the animals were treated for external and internal parasites and vaccinated against enterotoxaemia. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments included 1) starch, 2) starch with roasted canol seeds, 3) Neutral detergent soluble fiber and 4) Neutral detergent soluble fiber with roasted canola seed. The diets were offered to animals to meet the requirements of growth rate at 250 g/day according to National Research Council (NRC, 2007). Lambs were weighed weekly throughout the experimental period prior to the morning feeding. Feed conversion ratio was calculated as the ratio between average daily intake and average daily gain. Average daily gain was calculated for each sheep from regression analysis of live weight vs. time from day 1 to 99 of each treatment. At the end of the trial, all the animals were slaughtered according to Halal method. Samples from Longissimus dorsi (LD) between 5th and 6th ribs trimmed of all external subcutaneous fat were collected. These were used to determine moisture, crude protein, fat, and ash contents of meat according to Association of Official Analytical Chemistry (AOAC, 2006). Lightness (L*), rednes (a*), and yellowness (b*) of meat samples were measured using a Minolta CR-300 colorimeter in the CIE L*a*b*. Hue angle (H*) was calculated as tan−1 (b*/a*) × (180/π) and Chroma (C*) as (a*2+b*2)1/2. The colorimeter was set for using the illuminant A and 10° standard observers. About 50 g of the LD muscle between 6th to 9th ribs were taken for determination of fatty acid profiles. Muscle lipids were extracted as described by Folch et al. (1957), using dichloromethane and methanol (2:1 vol/vol), instead of chloroform and methanol (2:1 vol/vol), and were methylated according to Metcalfe and Schmitz (1961). The transmethylated samples were analyzed by a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and a capillary column measuring 100 m in length × 0.25 mm i.e., with a thickness of 0.20 mm. Helium was used as the carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Also, tridecanoic acid (C13:0) was used as internal standard. The initial temperature of the oven was 70 °C and was increased by 10 °C/min to 175 °C, where it was maintained for 25 min. The temperature was then increased by 7 °C/min to 220 °C, where it was maintained for 10 min, followed by another increase by 10 °C/min to 230 °C, where it remained for 4 min. The temperature of the injector was 280 °C, and the temperature of the detector was 300 °C. Identification of the fatty acids was carried out by comparison of the retention times with standards of fatty acids from butter, and the percentage of fatty acids was obtained by means of Chromquest 5.5 software. Performance data were analyzed completely random design with repeated measurement PROC MIXED and compound symmetry model. Meat Characteristics data were as a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement using PROC GLM in SAS software. Partial replacement of starch with soluble fiber significantly increased performance concentration of capric, c17:0 anteiso and behenic acid and significantly reduced lauric, heptadecanoic, oleic, linoleic and polyunsaturated fatty acids of longissimus dorsi (P<0.05). Addition of roasted canola seed to diets increased performance (average 288 g vs. 262 g) and reduced the concentration of isopalmitic and behenic acid and significantly increased concentration of Lauric, Myristic, Anteiso-pentadecanoic, Pentadecenoic, Palmitic, Palmitoleic, Stearic, Vaccenic, Conjugated linoleic, Oleic, α-Linolenic, γ-Linolenic, Gondoic, Docosatetraenoic, h-γ-Linolenic, Arachidonic, Eicosapentaenoic, Nervonic, Docosapentaenoic, Docosahexaenoic acids and the total concentration of unsaturated fatty acids with one or polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern longissimus dorsi (p<0.05). Canola seed addition significantly increased n-6/n-3 and p/s ratio (P<0.05). Replacement of starch with soluble fiber significantly decreased and fat addition significantly increased meat cholesterol concentratin (P<0.05). The results showed that the use of canola seeds by changing the indicators of unsaturated fatty acids, omega-6 to omega-3 ratios reform and polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids
can improve the quality and quantity of meat.

Oak kernel contains high starch, so it can be used as an energy source in the concentrate of ruminant diet. Also, oak kernel containing active biological compounds, such as tannin, gallic acid, galloyl or hexahydroxy decanol derivatives (Saffarzadeh et al. 1999). Tannins form complexes with a large number of nutrients and bacterial cell membranes, enzymes, and decrease digestion in the rumen (Rajablo 2009). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect experimental diets including 0, 15.80, 31.58, and 47.37% oak kernel on degradability parameters, fermentative and in vitro digestibility in Holstein cow and river Khuzestani buffalo. Oak kernel used by 15.8, 31.58 and 47.37 % in diet (balanced on the base of NRC, 2001) of cow and buffalo. Gas production and fermentation parameters of experimental diets were determined by Menke and Steingass (1988). Rumen fluid was collected from animals before the morning feeding. About 200 mg sample (1.0 mm screen) incubated in 100 ml vials with 35 ml buffered rumen fluid under continuous CO2 reflux for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, in a water bath maintained at 39°C. Cumulative gas production data were fitted to the exponential equation Y=b (1−e−ct), where b is the gas production (mL) from the fermentable fraction, c is the rate constant of gas production (mL/h), t is the incubation time (h) and Y is the volume of gas produced at time t. Partitioning factor, microbial biomass and truly digested organic matter was calculated by Makkar and Becker (1997). For determination of partitioning factor at the end of each incubation period, the content of vials was transferred into an Erlenmeyer flask, mixed with 20 mL neutral detergent fiber solution, boiled for 1 hour, filtered, dried (in oven at 60 °C for 48 h) and ashed. Digestibility of dry matter and NDF of experimental diets were determined using Tilly and Terry method (Tilly and Terry 1963). Rumen fluid was collected from animals and was mixed with McDougall buffer in a ratio 1:4. After gasifying with CO2, tubes were incubated at 39 ˚C. After 48 h of fermentation, 6 mL of 20% HCl solution and 5 mL pepsin solution were added and the incubated for 48 h simulating post-ruminal degradation. After incubation, the residual substrates of each tube were filtered and used to determine digestibility of DM and NDF.
Dry matter degradability was measured by in situ technique using cow and buffalo fitted with rumen fistula (400±12 Kg, BW). Five g of each milled sample (2.0 mm screen) were transferred into a polyester bag (10×20 cm, 52 μm pore size) and incubated in the rumen for 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 24, 4 8, 72 and 96 hours (n= 4). The degradability of DM were calculated using the equation P = a + b (1- e -ct). The obtained data were analyzed in a split plot design using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS software, version 9.2. The Duncan multiple range test was used to compare means at P< 0.05. Dry matter digestibility and NDF were the highest in treatment including 31.58% oak kernel in cow and buffalo (P<0.05). Regardless of the type of treatment, dry matter digestibility was not significant in cow and buffalo (P>0.05), but NDF digestibility in buffalo was more than cows (P<0.05). The highest potential of gas production was for diets containing oak kernel (P<0.05). The value of PF, microbial biomass, microbial biomass efficiency and organic matter digested was not significant between diets containing different amounts of oak kernel (P>0.05). Slowly degradable fraction (b), potential of degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) were the highest in the diet containing 31.58% oak kernel (P<0.05). Fraction of rapidly degradable (a), slowly degradable fraction (b), constant degradable rate (c), potential of degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) was not different in cow and buffalo (P>0.05). Researchers reported that tannins cause inhibition of microbial enzymes and decrease in fermentation (Danesh Mesgaran 2009). Tannins can reduce microorganism adhesion to nutrients; inhibit microbial activity which has negative effects on fermentation and methane production (Frutos 2004). According to the result, it can be concluded, 31.58% oak kernel by improving in vitro fermentative condition of rumen can be used in diet of cow and Khuzestan buffalo, but it requires more studies.