Protozoa population and production of microbial protein in sheep fed microwave irradiated safflower seed

Based on studies, safflower seeds contain highest levels of linoleic acid among other oilseeds and are produced in certain regions of Iran. Importance of processing of oilseeds and beneficial effects of microwave irradiation processing and its influence on rumen ecosystem is known, therefore this study carried out to determine the effects of adding raw and microwaved safflower seed on rumen ecosystem.
Three rumenaly fistulated sheep were used for determination of the effect of adding raw and microwaved safflower seed on rumen ecosystem such as rumen pH, ammonia-N, total volatile fatty acid, protozoa population and rumen microbial protein yielding. This experiment carried out in three period and each period lasted 24 days, 21 days for adaptation and 3 days for data collection. Total volatile fatty acid, ammonia-N, protozoa population and rumen microbial protein yielding were determined by Markham steel, spectrophotometer, neobar lam and purine derivative excretion, respectively.
Adding raw and treated safflower seed hadn’t any significant effect on rumen pH, ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acid but adding raw and treated safflower seed decreased ruminal protozoa population (P Results show that inclusion of safflower seed up to 4% of diet dry matter had no effect on rumen ecosystem such as pH, total volatile fatty acid and ammonia-N, so we can use safflower seed in sheep and ruminant diets as valuable oil seed.