Effect of drying and ensiling of pomegranate seed pulp on its chemical composition and ruminal degradability parameters

The fresh Pomegranate seed pulp (PSP، containing 47. 5 percent dry matter) was ensiled within plastic buckets (three kg weight) for 70 days and then chemical composition، phenolic compounds concentration and DM ruminal degradability parameters and ruminal، post-ruminal and total tract digestibility of DM were measured. The results showed that ensiling significantly decreased total phenolic compounds، total tannins، gallic acid، tannic acid، penicillin and punicalagin A content of PSP but condensed tannins، ellagic acid and punicalagin B content were not affected by preservation method. DM ruminal degradability parameters، rapidly and slowly potentially degradable fractions and effective degradability on passage rate of 0. 02، 0. 05 and 0. 08 per h were not significantly affected by treatments but ensiling increased the ruminal and total tract digestibility of DM and decreased the DM degradability rate constant and DM post-ruminal digestibility. Based on the results of this study ensiling could improve the nutritional value of PSP.