Effects of pistachio by-product in replacement of lucerne hay on microbial protein synthesis and fermentative parameters in the rumen of sheep

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial and total substitution of lucerne hay with pistachio by-product on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, digesta kinetics, blood metabolites, nitrogen retention and microbial protein synthesis in Baloochi sheep. Six sheep with a bodyweight of 40.1 ± 1.77 kg fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulae were assigned at random to three diets in a double 3 × 3 Latin-square design. The dietary treatments included a control (basal diet), low pistachio by-product diet (50% of the lucerne hay in the basal diet was replaced by pistachio by-product), and high pistachio by-product diet (all of the lucerne hay in the basal diet was replaced by pistachio by-product). The daily basal diet was 500 g/kg DM lucerne hay, 250 g/kg DM wheat straw, 210 g/kg DM barley grain, 30 g/kg DM cotton seed meal, 8 g/kg DM vitamin–mineral supplement and 2 g/kg DM salt. Faeces and urine were collected for 8 days and used to estimate digestibility, nitrogen retention and microbial protein synthesis. Sheep were dosed ruminally with Cr-EDTA (2.27 g/L) and rumen samples were evaluated for pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia nitrogen concentrations and digesta kinetics. The intake of neutral detergent fibre, purine derivatives excretion, volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rumen and ammonia nitrogen in the abomasum decreased (P < 0.05). Ether extract intake and ruminal pH was increased at 5 h after feeding (P < 0.05) as the level of pistachio by-product in the diet increased. Total pistachio by-product replacement for lucerne hay increased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility of nitrogen, ether extract, organic matter and nitrogen retention and decreased (P < 0.05) microbial protein synthesis, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and ammonia nitrogen in the rumen. The inclusion of pistachio by-product had no effect on blood metabolites and digesta kinetics. Based on these results it was concluded that pistachio by-product can be considered as a useful replacement for lucerne hay in the diet of Baloochi sheep without any negative impacts on their responses. Moreover, pistachio by-product inclusion in diet improved nitrogen metabolism in Baloochi sheep.

Effects of pistachio by‐products in replacement of alfalfa hay on populations of rumen bacteria involved in biohydrogenation and fermentative parameters in the rumen of sheep

“…This is while Ghasemi et al. () reported that ruminal pH increased from 6.03 to 6.33 (p < 0.01) in Baluchi lambs as a result of including PBP by up to 50% DM of their diets. It is generally agreed that tannins reduce the rate of protein degradation in the rumen (Min et al., ; Ghasemi et al., ).…”

“…However, the lowest ruminal ammonia‐N concentrations measured in the current study were still above the minimum concentrations required (≥5 mg/dl) for rumen microbial growth (Satter and Roffler, ). Previous studies suggest that feeding PBP at low (≤6%) or medium (≤15%) levels had no adverse effects on rumen fermentation, digestion or performance (Ghasemi et al., ; Mokhtarpour et al., ; Shakeri et al., ). However, higher PBP levels may adversely affect voluntary feed intake and growth performance (Shakeri et al., ).…”

“…() reported that ruminal pH increased from 6.03 to 6.33 (p < 0.01) in Baluchi lambs as a result of including PBP by up to 50% DM of their diets. It is generally agreed that tannins reduce the rate of protein degradation in the rumen (Min et al., ; Ghasemi et al., ). In the current study, reduction in ruminal ammonia‐N concentrations with the use of PBP in the diet of sheep could probably resulted from a greater concentration of tannins bound to proteins and decreased proteolysis of feed protein (Min et al., ; Frutos et al., ).…”

“…Ghasemi et al. () reported that the concentration of total and individual VFA in the rumen of sheep fed PBP by up to 50% DM was lower (p < 0.05) than those fed AH. Beauchemin et al.…”

Effects of electron irradiation, sodium hydroxide and poly ethylene glycol on the utilization of pistachio by-products by Zandi male lambs

“…In one study Ghasemi et al (2012) reported that high replacement of PBP for alfalfa hay (50% of diets total DM) increased OM, CP and EE apparent digestibilities of sheep fed at requirement level. But moderated substitution of PBP (25% of diets DM) for alfalfa hay in this study did not affect digestion of nutrients.…”