Effects of pistachio by-product biochar on in vitro ruminal fermentation and performance of lactating ewes

Two experiments were conducted to assess the addition of pistachio by-product biochar (PBB) to lactatingewes’ diet. In first experiment, the effects of the addition of different levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% diet on dry matter basis, DM) of PBB on rumen fermentation parameters after 24h of incubation were investigated in a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. Second experiment was designed to evaluate effect of feeding selected level ofPBB on performance and nutrient digestibility of 8 lactatingKermanian ewes in a Latin square change-over designwith two 21-day periods. Methane production and ammonia-N concentrations decreased linearly (P<0.01), and pH increased linearly (P<0.01) as the dietary level of PBB raised. With the addition of 1% PBB to the lactating ewes’ diet, milk yield, blood glucose, digestibility of DM increased(P<0.05) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) decreased (P<0.05)compared to control group.In general, adding 1% of PBB to lactatingewes’ diet can improve milk yield and digestibility of DM.