Effect of Pleurotus florida fungi on chemical composition, ruminal degradability and gas production of saffron foliage residues

Regarding the high amount of saffron production in Iran and especially in South Khorasan province and increasing need to forage production, optimum usage of saffron foliage residues could play an important role in the supply of partial forage needed for livestock in this province. This study was carried out to determine the chemical composition and ruminal dry matter (DM) degradability of saffron foliage residues treated with Pleurotus florida fungi using in situ and gas production techniques in Animal Nutrition Laboratory of University of Birjand with two treatment and based on t-test statistical analysis. For this, saffron foliage residues were harvested at late vegetation growth stage and treated with Pleurotus florida fungi. The results showed that treated saffron foliage residues contained lower content of DM, NDF and ADF, but higher CP than untreated residues (the DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and ash content of untreated residues were 93.9, 6.6, 45.9, 38.0 and 5.2% of DM, and of treated residues were 67.7, 14.8, 28.2, 26.7 and 6.7% of DM, respectively). The DM ruminal degradability parameters of residues were significantly increased by Fungi treating. Treating of saffron residues also increased their gas production from DM potentially fermentable fraction (b), metabolisable energy, organic matter digestibility, and short chain fatty acids content. Treating saffron residues with Pleurotus florida improved their nutritional value.