Determination of degradability and the effect of Ziziphora tenuior L. on dry matter digestibility rumen microbial population and blood parameters of Dalaq sheep

This experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effect of Ziziphora tenuioron dry matter digestibility, rumen microbial populations and blood parameters of sheep in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, chemical composition, gas production and dry matter degradation of Ziziphora tenuior was determined using three fistulated rams. In the second experiment, nine male lambs in a completely randomized design with three levels of zero, 25 and 50 grams per day for each animal were used. Dry matter digestibility by total collection method and acid insoluble ash (AIA) was calculated, and also microbial populations of anaerobic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria and coliforms by culture method were evaluated. The results showed that gas production rate was 23.7 ml in 200 g of dry matter and degradation rate was 0.074 ml per hour per 200 g dry matter. Degradability parameters including a, b, c, a b and effective degradability of DM in passage rate of 2, 5 and 8 percent were 32.2, 29.7, 0.03, 62.0, 49.83, 43.4 and 40.5, respectively. In the second experiment Ziziphora tenuior has no effect on dry matter digestibility of the diet with AIA, but different levels Ziziphora tenuiorincreased dry matter digestibility than control group by total collection method (P