Effect of feeding Scrophularia striata Boiss on fermentation, gas production and in vitro digestibility characteristics of Lori- Bakhtiari sheep

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeding Scrophularia striata on fermentation characteristics, gas production and fiber and protein digestibility of Lori- Bakhtiari sheep. In this experiment, 12 lambs with average weight 30±1.5 kg divided to 3 groups (treatments) and 4 subgroups (replicate) and were fed with diets containing 6, 3 and 0.0 (control) g Scrophularia striata /kg DM for one month. In the end of experiment, rumen fluid collected from 3 replicates and parameters of fermentation and gas production (after 96 h) and in vitro digestibility of wheat straw and soybean meal were measured (4 replicates per each). The results showed gas production potential of soybean meal (61.19 mL) and straw (50.48 mL) in controltreatment was more than Scrophularia striata treatments (P0.05). Most of PF and efficiency of microbial biomass of wheat straw was for 3 g/kg DM Scrophularia striata (15.03 mg/ml and 86 %, respectively) and most of organic matter digestibility was for 6 g Scrophularia striata (253.85 mg). Dry matter digestibility of soybean meal (83.57 %) was the greatest in treatment containing 3 g/kg DM (P0.05). According to the result, the using of3 g/kg DM Scrophularia striata in Lori-Bakhtiarisheep diet had positive impact on microbial fermentation and digestibility.