Ruminal degradability and apparent digestibility of electron beam irradiated olive cake

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of electron beam (EB) irradiation on chemical composition, apparent digestibility of organic matter and crude protein (CP) and ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM), CP and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of olive cake (OC). After preparation of OC, samples were irradiated with EB at doses of 200, 250 and 300 kGy using a Rhodotron accelerator system. Four Gezel sheep (41±2 kg) were used for determination of OM and CP digestibilities of OC. The sheep were fed a total mixed ration containing 70% of DM forage and 30% of DM concentrate during two pre-experimental and experimental periods. Apparent digestibility were evaluated using acid insoluble ash method. Ruminal degradation of DM, CP and NDF was determined according to in situ procedure. Untreated and EB irradiated feed samples were incubated in the rumen of four ruminally fistulated Gezel rams at periods of 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h and resulting data were fitted to non-linear degradation model to calculate degradation parameters of DM, CP and NDF.EB decreased (P