Determine the chemical composition of the Mallva sylvesteris and replace it with an appropriate level of alfalfa hay in the diet of sheep

This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Mallva sylvesteris as native and medicinal plant, and determine the appropriate level to use it as an alternative forage portion of the diet of ruminants in two steps. Dry matter (DM), crude protein, ether extract and ash of Mallva sylvesteris was 11.76, 20.11, 3.81 and 16.72 (%DM). Gross and metabolisable energy was 3772 Kcal and 2.55 Mcal/kg-1 DM, respectively. Then, 6 experimental diets contain 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% Mallva sylvesteris replaced with alfalfa as forage part of a balanced diet was prepared and gas production and digestibility of diet compared. As increasing the amount of Mallva sylvesteris in diets, the gas production and digestibility was increased (P<0.05). At next step, 6 sheep were used. The experimental diets were: 1) 0 (control) 2) 60% Mallva sylvesteris replaced with alfalfa (selected treatment from last Experiment). Dry matter intake of diet contain Mallva sylvesteris significantly was more than control (P<0.05). Rumen ammonia nitrogen and pH, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glocuse were not affected by diets. There was no effect on nutrients digestibility (P>0.05). Therefore, the result were shown that using up to 18% DM of total diet Mallva sylvesteris or 60% replaced with alfalfa had no miserable effect on animal, so it may used in sheep diets as feedlot or grazing forage.