The effect of Feeding Alhagi with Waste Date Palm silage on Dry Matter Intake, Nutrients Digestibility and Blood Parameters of Sheep

This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and of silages made from Alhagi with waste date Palm. The effect of feeding different levels of ensiled Alhagi with waste date Palm on dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility and blood parameters in Kermani sheep were investigated. For this purpose 100 k g of Alhagi with 20 kg of waste date Palm without kernel were mixed and ensiled for 45 d in containers with 100 liter capacity. After opening, chemical composition, PH and metabolizable energy of silages were determined. The experimental diets were: 1) control diet (without Alhagi with waste date Palm silage), 2) diet containing 7% Alhagi with waste date Palm silage, 3) diet containing 14% Alhagi with waste date Palm silage and 4) diet containing 21% Alhagi with waste date Palm silage. Four male rams (41±2 kg BW) were used in a 21 d 4×4 change over design. Blood samples were collected on last day of each sampling period before morning feeding. Adding different levels of waste date Palm to Alhagi during ensiling improved the quality of silage and increased crude protein and ether extract (P