Effect of using pruning foliage of conocarpus on digestibility, rumen fermentation and blood parameters of Arabi sheep

The current experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of conocarpuson digestibility, microbial rumen fermentation, and blood parameters in the Arabi sheep. At the first experiment, the most proper diet among diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% conocarpusfoliage, instead of corn silage, were selected by in vitro methods. The result indicated, diet containing 15% conocarpus had the greatest potential of gas production and digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (p < /em><0.05). Then, diet containing 15% conocarpusfoliage was used in the feeding of Arabi sheep with average weight of 25±5 kg and 12±1 months age. These diets containing 55% forage to 45% concentrate were used in the completely randomized design for a period of 35 days. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber and acid in the experimental diets was not different (p < /em>>0.05). Also, blood triglyceride and aspartate and alanine aminotransferase did not influence by treatments (p < /em>>0.05). The potential of gas production and digestibility of straw in sheep fed with control and experimental diets had not significant difference (p < /em>>0.05). Dry matter intake, blood urea, glucose and LDL in treatment containing conocarpus were less than the control treatment, but blood cholesterol and HDL increased (p < /em><0.05). Ammonia nitrogen and pH of rumen in diet containing conocarpus was less than control (p < /em><0.05). The result of this study showed, due to the lack of a negative effect on digestibility and fermentation and the other parameters in this experiment, maybe conocarpus foliage can be used by 15% as replacement with some forage in Arabi sheep diet.