Determine the chemical composition and gas production parameters Vicia sativa, Lathyrus sativus and Vicia ervilia grain by in Vitro Gas Production Technique

Chemical composition can affect fermentability of grains in the gastrointestinal tract .
This study was carried out to determine the chemical composition and gas production parameters of grain of Vicia sativa, Lathyrus sativus and Vicia ervilia cultivated in tabriz province.
Data obtained in a completely randomized design were used for statistical analysis.
Vicia sativa, Lathyrus sativus and Vicia ervilia were in terms of crude protein 30.06, 28.56 and 23.29%DM, NDF 34.55, 31.77 and 30.65%DM and ash 3.68, 4.32 and 3.05%DM respectively. Among the tested grains, the grain of Vicia ervilia had the highest fermentation parameters, potential gas production, rate of gas production, short chain fatty acids and metabolizable energy that estimated as 278.19 mL, 0.106 mL h-1, 11.22 mmol and 9.24 MJ/kg respectively and Vicia sativa grain had the lowest potential gas production 263.22 ML, Short Chain Fatty Acid 10.48 mmol, and metabolizable energy 8.79 MJ/kg content. The grain of Vicia ervilia, had higher nutritive value than other tested feeds due to its in vitro fermentation characteristics as well as chemical composition.
The results of this study indicated that tested grains are appropriate source of the protein for ruminant nutrition.