The Effects of Alfalfa Particle Size and Processed Canola Meal on Physicochemical Properties of Ration in Zel Sheep

Four ruminally cannulated sheep were used in order to investigate the effects of alfalfa particle size (long vs fine) and canola meal treatment with hydrochloric acid solution (untreated vs treated) on feed physical characteristics, distribution of ruminal content particle size and the effect of initial chewing on decrease of particle size. Data documented from experiment analyzed at Latin square design. The method of wet sieve was used in order to determine distribution of rumen content and mild flow of water on sieves was used for dissociation of particles. Using two methods of BD100 and BD50, determination of bulk density were done. The effect of initial chewing on the amount of decrease of particle size determined by measurement of ruminal content distribution of particle size emptied at the time of measurement of saliva secretion rate. The results of this experiment showed that decrease of particle size caused increase of bulk density and insoluble ash (P = 0.0001) and in the other hand increase of particle size caused increase of water holding capacity and insoluble dry matter (P= 0.0001). Treatment with acid caused no change in physical characteristics (P> 0.05). Comparison to alfalfa, Canola meal had higher insoluble dry matter. Trend of particle size distribution for all hours showed that increase of time after feeding caused decrease of long particles percent and increase of remained particles on the end sieves (P< 0.05). Investigate the results related to escapable phase particles percent from rumen showed that Increase of time post-feeding caused increase of escapable phase particles percent from rumen and decreased of nonescapable phase particles percent from rumen (P< 0.05)