Effect of pistachio by-product and canola seed on digestibility and blood metabolites in Baluchi sheep

In order to study the effect of pistachio by-product (PB) in diets with or without canola seed on digestibility and plasma metabolites in Baluchisheep, four Baluchi rams (40±2 kg body weight) were used in a duplicated 4×4 Latin square design with 4 periods. Each period included 14 days of adaptation and 7 days of sample collection. Treatments were: 1) 30% alfalfa- 20% straw- 50% concentrate, 2) T1+5/5% canola seed in concentrate 3) 30% PB-20% straw- 50% concentrate 4) T3+ 5/5% canola seed in concentrate. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF and ADF, blood glucose concentrations, total protein and activity of liver enzymes were not significantly affected by the treatments, but CP digestibility and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were lower in diets containing PB. Blood triglyceride was significantlyhigher in canola seed diets. The results demonstrated that 30% PB in sheep diet although shows negative effect on CP digestibility, because of no significant effect on other nutritional parameters, it could be replaced with part of diet alfalfa.