In present experiment fermantability of three halophyte species including: Atriplex leucoclada (AL), Suaeda fruticosa (SF) and Seidlitzia rosmarinus (SR) in the form of individually or mixed as 0.0, 33.5 66.5 and 100% with each other (9 diets), were evaluated using a compelet randomized design. These halophyte species were collected from southern rangelands of Khuzestan province during autumn and winter grazing season. The diets were different regarding the rate and amount of gas producedtion (P

Pastures provide an important part of ruminant fodder needs, and farmers store some pasture plants to use in winter-feeding of livestock. Therefore, having enough information about the nutritional value of such plants can help to optimize their consumption in animal feeding. Completing the information on the good-quality plants adapted to different environments will help to use and develop these valuable resources in a better way. In addition, it may be possible to improve rumen fermentation by aromatic pasture plants. Adiantum capillus-veneris (Adiantum) and Salvia officinalis L. (Salvia) are valuable genetic resources in pastures that are also used in livestock feeding. Due to the presence of plant secondary metabolites, they may improve rumen fermentation. However, there is little information on the nutritional value of Adiantum. Some information is available on the chemical composition of Salvia species (especially the leaves) and the effect of its essential oil on the rumen, but data on the use of the whole plant as forage are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutritional value of Adiantum and Salvia compared to alfalfa, and the effect of including different levels of them in the diet on in vitro ruminal fermentation variables and digestibility.
The experimental pasture plants (Adiantum and Salvia) were obtained in July, after flowering, from the pasture of Safrin village located in the rural district of Rajaeedasht in western Alamut (Qazvin, Iran). In experiment I, the chemical composition of the fodders was determined by the standard methods, considering alfalfa as the control forage. In experiment II, the effect of different dietary levels of the fodders was assessed using in vitro gas production technique with five treatments including 1. A diet without the rangeland plants (control diet), 2. A diet containing 15% of Adiantum, 3. A diet containing 30% of Adiantum, 4. A diet containing 15% of Salvia, and 5. A diet containing 30% of Salvia (on a DM basis). The in vitro digestibility, fermentation variables, microbial biomass production (MBP), total antioxidant power (TAP), protozoa numbers, and methane production were determined. The gas test was performed in three replicates and two runs, and data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS.
According to the results of experiment I, Adiantum and Salvia had higher ash compared to alfalfa (P<0.05). The crude protein and digestibility of Adiantum were lower than Salvia and alfalfa (P<0.05). The lower digestibility of Adiantum could be due to its higher lignin and ash and the lower crude protein concentration. Therefore, when consuming Adiantum in diets of high-productive ruminants, it is necessary to pay more attention to the use of energy supplements. Compared to alfalfa, the in vitro fermentation of Adiantum and Salvia resulted in higher in vitro ruminal MBP and TAP and lower ammonia-N and protozoa population (P<0.05), due to the presence of plant secondary metabolites such as phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and terpenes. The results of experiment II showed that the inclusion of Adiantum and Salvia in the diet had no significant (P>0.05) effect on in vitro gas production, organic matter digestibility, and metabolizable energy. Dietary use of Salvia, however, enhanced truly degraded substrate (P<0.05). Sometimes, high amounts of secondary metabolites in plants may have negative effects on the rumen but the amounts of metabolites in the pasture plants used in this study were not so high as to hurt rumen microbes and digestion. Dietary inclusion of Adiantum and Salvia improved in vitro TAP and decreased protozoa population, methane production, and acetate to propionate ratio (P<0.05). The lowest methane production was observed for the diets containing Salvia. The positive effect of the rangeland plants on in vitro TAP was because both plants contain significant amounts of various secondary metabolites (such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenes) that are known to be favorable and high-capacity antioxidants. These plant metabolites can remove free radicals, bind transition metals (such as free iron), remove active oxygen from the environment, induce antioxidant enzymes, and reduce and moderate the conditions of oxidative stress and destruction. The reduction of methane release using Adiantum and Salvia in the diet was probably related to the fact that plant secondary metabolites destruct the protozoa or interfere with their metabolic pathways. In addition, they may inhibit methanogenic and hydrogen-consuming bacteria or hydrogen-producing Gram-positive bacteria. The dietary addition of Adiantum and Salvia improved in vitro ruminal MBP and decreased the ammonia-N concentration (P<0.05) compared to the control diet. The result could be due to the reduction of the protozoa population, causing a decrease in nitrogen recycling in the rumen and a decrease in bacteria predation. The formation of phenolic-protein complexes can also be another possible reason for reducing protein breakdown and ammonia concentration. Moreover, as rumen protozoa are reduced, the bacteria will have fewer natural predators and their population (reflected in the higher MBP) will increase, improving the degradation of feed ingredients. The inclusion of Adiantum and Salvia in the diet did not affect in vitro pH, total volatile fatty acids, and partitioning factor (P>0.05).
It is possible to include whole plants of Adiantum and Salvia in the diet, up to 30% DM, without adverse effects on digestibility. It also improves diet efficiency by increasing in vitro ruminal MBP and TAP and reducing methane and ammonia production.

The aim of this study was to compare chemical composition, tannin content, in vitro gas production kinetics, in vitro dry matter and NDF digestibility and microbial biomass production of dried and ensiled pomegranate peel (PP; in four replicates). The crude protein, crude ash, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in ensiled pomegranate peel (51, 48.4, 292.9 and 173.7, g/kg DM, respectively) were higher than the dried one(36.5, 37.5, 221.9 and 150.2 g/kg DM, respectively; P<0.05), whereas non-fiber carbohydrates (580 VS. 688.9 g kg- DM) were lower in pomegranate peel silages (P<0.05). Ensiling decreased the total phenolics (191.17 VS. 255.3 g of tannic acid equivalents kg-1 DM), total tannins (162.4 VS.219 g of tannic acid equivalents kg-1 DM) and non-tannin phenols (29.3 VS. 36.2 g of tannic acid equivalents kg-1 DM), pH (3.69 vs. 3.92) and water soluble carbohydrates (24.6 vs. 34.5), but increased the buffering capacity (12.73 vs. 8.79 meq-1 L), ammonia concentration (97 vs. 52 g kg-1 total N) and lactic acid (42.7 vs. 0.162 g kg-1DM) in pomegranate peel (P<0.05). The gas production, metabolizable energy and short chain fatty acids concentration (0.723 vs. 1.023 mmol) in dried PP were higher than those of ensiled PP (P<0.05). The in vitro fiber digestibility, partitioning factor, microbial biomass production, efficiency of microbial biomass production and ruminal ammonia concentration were higher in pomegranate peel (P<0.05). Although ensiling to some extent decreased phenolic contents, but did not improve the nutritive value of PP in comparison with drying.

The effect of essential oils on in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation has been studied but there are few experiments about the interaction between essential oils and diet type. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) in diets containing different sources of starch (different degradation rate) and different sources of fat on in vitro gas production kinetics, ruminal digestion and fermentation parameters.
Experimental diets in first experiment consist of: 1- corn based diet, 2- wheat and barley based diet. 3- first diet with monensin, 4- second diet with monensin, 5- first diet with ZMEO, 6- second diet with ZMEO and in second experiment experimental diets consist of: 1- diet containing calcium salts of fatty acids, 2- diet containing soybean oil, 3- first diet with monensin, 4- second diet with monensin, 5- first diet with ZMEO and 6- second diet with ZMEO. Gas production (GP), pH, ammonia-N concentration, apparent in vitro dry matter digestibility (AIVDMD) and true in vitro organic matter digestibility (TIVOMD) were measured. Gas production parameters, fermentation parameters and metabolisable energy (ME) were estimated.
In both experiments ZMEO and monensin significantly decreased the gas production after 24 h of incubation (GP24), gas production potential, VFA concentration, ammonia-N concentration and ME (P0.05).
It is concluded that ZMEO changed the ruminal fermentation and digestion and its effect depending on substrate type.

Introduction[1] Forages are grown mainly for feeding livestock, especially in dairy cows, because adequate roughage is needed in diets to provide good rumen function. However, as more roughage is fed, the energy density of the diet is reduced. So, the production of high quality forage is very important for dairy producers. High quality forage has direct effects on animal production efficiency, including weight gain, milk production, and reproductive success. Producing and conserving of high quality forage is a challenge because several factors can be affected forage quality including plant species, soil fertility, maturity at harvest, and harvesting (mowing, field curing, baling or chopping) and storage methods and other factors (weeds, insects and diseases). Fiber and energy contents are the most important in forage quality measures. As the fiber level increases, the energy content generally decreases. Therefore, improving forage quality can be achieved by managing forage carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are the primary source for ruminants and contribute 60 to 70% of the net energy used for milk production and are classified as structural and non-structural. As usual, structural carbohydrates defined as neutral detergent fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and portion of the pectin) and non-structural carbohydrates consist of the sugars, starches and pectin. Non-structural carbohydrates are a highly digestible energy source and together with degraded protein, are needed by the rumen for microbial growth and digestion. Plants accumulate sugars during the day via photosynthesis, but incur a net loss at night via dark respiration. This diurnal cycling reflects the concentration of total nonstructural carbohydrates in forages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morning versus afternoon cutting time on chemical composition, gas production parameters and digestibility of sun-drying alfalfa, clover and barley forages. Materials and Methods About 5-7 cm above the soil stage, alfalfa, clover and barley were harvested in two times, at 06:00 AM and 18:00 PM. Whole Alfalfa and clover plants were harvested at the first bud stage of development and whole barley plant at the medium dough stage of maturity used. Their nutritive value was evaluated through the determination of chemical compositions and in vitro gas production techniques. Samples were tested in an in vitro gas production method (96 h incubation) and batch rumen culture system (24 h incubation). Rumen fluid was collected before the morning feed from three fistulated Dalagh male sheep (45 ± 1.5 kg live weight fed on a forage diet at a concentration of 40:60). In vitro gas production was measured in triplicate and for each replicate; a sample of 200 mg DM was used. The bottles were then filled with 30 ml of incubation medium that consisted of 10 ml of rumen fluid plus 20 ml of buffer solution and placed in a water bath at 39 °C. Gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Total gas values corrected for blank incubation and gas values expressed in ml g-1 of DM. The asymptotic gas production system (A) and rate of gas production (c), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). A medium similar to one developed for gas production was used for batch rumen culture system to measure pH, and NH3-N and in vitro digestibility. The pH of the media was measured after 24 h incubation. After 24 h incubation, the contents of each glass bottle were empty, strained through four layers of cheesecloth and then 10 ml of strained rumen fluid was acidified by 10 ml of 0.2 N HCl for determination of NH3-N using the distillation method. Finally, all contents remaining in the bottles were filtered through nylon bags, oven dried at 60 °C for 48 h and analyzed for IVDMD and IVOMD. Results and Discussion Results showed that cutting time affected chemical composition of alfalfa and clover forages significantly (p < 0.05), but had not effect on barley forage. Afternoon cutting forages had lower content of NDF and ADF and higher levels of starch and WSC compared to morning cutting forages. There were no significant differences between afternoon and morning cutting forages on gas production parameters (P > 0.05). However, Afternoon cut forages had higher gas production potential than morning cutting forages. Results showed that harvest time had significant effect on DMD (66 vs 59) and OMD (64 vs 58.5) of barley forage. Although, time harvesting had no effect on MCP, EMCP and PF (P>0.05), but Afternoon cut forages had higher MCP, EMCP and PF than morning cutting forages. Conclusion Generally, it was concluded that with considered all factors that affected quality and nutritive value of forages, delaying forage harvest until late afternoon could result in improve nutritive value of forage.

This study was conducted to compare the nutritive value of molasses and vinasses by in vitro gas production technique using rumen fluid collected from three fistulated mature male sheep. The experiment used the completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 6 replications. Rumen fluid was collected from three fistulated mature male sheep.The experimental diets included: diet 1) basal diet 20% molasses 0% vinasses (control), diet 2) basal diet 15% molasses % vinasses, diet 3) basal diet 10% molasses 10% vinasses, diet 4) basal diet 5% molasses 15% vinasses, and diet 5) basal diet 0% molasses 20% vinasses. Potential of gas production, rate of gas production, metabolizable energy, digestibilityof organic matter and short-chain fatty acids from molasses were more than those from vinasses (P

Carbohydrates are generally classified as either non-structural or structural carbohydrates. Structural carbohydrates include cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) are present inside the plant cells and are usually more digestible than carbohydrates found in plant cell walls. Dietary non-fiber carbohydrates are the main source of energy for high-producing dairy cows, which provide 30 to 45 percent of the dry matter intake. They are a very diverse group of non-fiber carbohydrates, which include starch, sugars, fructans, and pectin substances. Although the total amount of non-fiber carbohydrates is referred to as a single value, different types of NFC have different effects on digestibility and production properties. The dietary profile of NFC has the potential to alter the supply of metabolizable nutrients to the animal because NFC differ in digestion and fermentation characteristics. Sucrose is rapidly fermented in the rumen compared with corn starch. In vitro fermentation of sucrose, starch, and pectin resulted in different organic acid profiles, digestion characteristics, and maximal microbial protein yields. In addition, these effects may be affected by other feed components, such as the amount of rumen degradable protein. Some researchers have been showed that the impact of starch and sugars on low quality forage utilization may interact with the amount of supplemental rumen degradable protein. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of various sources of non-fiber carbohydrates (starch, sucrose, pectin, dextrose) in combination with different levels of rumen degradable protein on gas production and digestibility of fermentation parameters in in vitro condition.

Soybean meal treated with heating at 160°C-60 min and untreated soybean meal were selected as low rumen degradable protein (RDP) and high RDP sources, respectively. Four types of non-fiber carbohydrates (dextrose, sucrose, starch and pectin) supplemented with two levels of rumen degradable protein (RDP) in a 2×4 factorial arrangement by gas production and batch culture. A basal diet including: alfalfa (30%), corn silage (10%), barley grain (25%), wheat barn (9%), salt (0.5%), mineral-vitamin supplement (0.5%), soybean meal (15%) and non- fiber carbohydrate source (10%) was prepared. This study was conducted in two experiments. In the first experiment, the gas production parameters for two levels of high and low rumen degradable protein and four types of non-fiber carbohydrates (starch, sucrose, pectin and glucose) using the gas production technique. In the second experiment, the digestibility of the first experimental treatments were measured in an in vitro batch culture method. In the first experiment, the gas pressure was recorded with the pressure gauge at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 h after incubation. In the second experiment treatments were incubated in batch culture conditions for 24 hours and the degradability parameters were determined using equations.

the obtained results showed that sucrose had highest gas production potential, organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) than other NFC type in low RDP level. There was a significant difference in digestibility of organic matter and dry matter between treatments (P<0.05). The highest and lowest ammonia nitrogen concentrations were obtained from treatments with starch in combination with high and low RDP, respectively. Treatments had a significant effect on partitioning factor and production of microbial mass (P<0.05). Among the low-degradability protein-based treatments, pectin treatment had the highest amount of microbial production and among the treatments with high degradability protein content, starch treatment had the highest production of microbial mass and partitioning factor. Overall, the results showed that when the RDP level is low, sucrose has a better performance in terms of fermentation parameters, whereas when using the high RDP, there was no significant difference between different types of carbohydrates. It seems that these interactions should be considered in regulating diets.

The results of this experiment showed that different types of non-fiber carbohydrates and levels of rumen degradable protein had a different responses to fermentation parameters. When using low protein levels, it seems that there is a greater difference between different sources of non-fiber carbohydrates, while at high levels of protein degradation there is no significant difference between the different sources of non-fiber carbohydrates in terms of digestibility. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the non-fiber carbohydrate sources, along with the degradable protein supplement, has the ability to change the characteristics of ruminal fermentation, the source of food and the production.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of aflatoxin on the gas production, in vitro fermentation parameters, dry matter and organic matter digestibility of sheepchr('39')s diet. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replicate per treatment. The treatments included 1.diet without aflatoxin and methanol (control), 2.control with methanol, 3.diet containing 400 ng / ml of aflatoxin B1, 4.diet containing 800 ng / ml of aflatoxin B1, and 5.diet containing 1200 ng / ml of aflatoxin B1 in ruminal fluid. Treatments were incubated at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 hours and the amount of gas produced was measured using a barometer at 39 °C. The results showed that treatments with high levels of aflatoxin, especially 1200 ng / ml rumen fluid, significantly decreased gas production compared to those without aflatoxin. Addition of different levels of aflatoxin significantly decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility, microbial mass production, and biodegradability index compared to control group. The results of this study showed that rumen microorganisms have the ability to neutralize aflatoxin at low levels and fermentation conditions are not significantly affected. With increasing level of aflatoxin in the diet, the gas production, digestibility of dry matter and organic matter, and also microbial mass production and PF was reduced. Therefore, it can be concluded that aflatoxin modifies ruminal fermentation processes with reduced nutrient degradability, which is dependent on aflatoxin concentration.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of (zero, 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg Atriplex forage) malva sylvestris on digestibility and microbial fermentation of Atriplex in one-humped camel. Fermentation parameters by gas production technique and in vitro digestibility by two-stage digestion were measured by two years old female fistulated camels. Addition 40 and 60 mg/kg malva sylvestris increased gas produced from Atriplex forage (P<0.05). Gas production rate constant didn’t affect by malva sylvestris (P>0.05). Addition malva sylvestris (60 mg/kg) to Atriplex, significantly decreased partitioning factor, microbial biomass, the efficiency of microbial biomass and organic matter actually degradable (P<0.05). Addition of Malva sylvestris 40 and 60 mg/kg were significantly reduced medium pH (P<0.05). The compared with control the highest ammonia-nitrogen concentrations was for treatment containing 20 mg/kg malva sylvestris (11.37 mg/100 ml) (P<0.05). Also this treatment had the greatest NDF digestibility comparison to control (P<0.05). Adding malva sylvestris in 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg to Atriplex increased the protozoa population at 12 and 24 in comparison to control 48 h incubation (P<0.05). Species of Diplodinium camli, Diplodinium maggi, Epidinium ecudatum and Eudiplodinium maggi in treatments containing malva sylvestris were the highest. In conclusion, high fermentation malva sylvestris increase digestibility and gas production of Atriplex in one-humped camel diets.