Effects of physicochemical processing of wheat grain on ruminal microbial population, biochemical parameters and blood safety in Afshari male lambs

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat grain processing methods on growth performance, rumen microbial population, blood biochemical and immune parameters in fattening lambs. At first, wheat grain samples, according to the treatment group were chemically treated with urea, sodium hydroxide and formaldehyde, then were processed physically by milling and pelleting methods. Chemical composition and experimental diets were determined. The experiment was conducted in March 2017 at the research farm of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Thirty male lambs with an initial body weight of 31.21±3 kg were used in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 5 replications for an 84-day feeding experiment. A similar experimental diet was used for all treatments which differed in the type of processed wheat. Experimental treatments included: 1- The diet contains whole wheat grain, 2- The diet containing milled wheat grain, 3-The diet containing wheat grain processed with urea and sodium hydroxide and milled, 4-The diet containing wheat grain processed with urea, formaldehyde and milled, 5-The diet containing wheat grain processed with urea and sodium hydroxide and pelleted and 6-The diet containing wheat grains processed with urea, formaldehyde and pellets. At the 80 day of the period, ruminal fluid samples were collected to determine Microbial population. On the last day blood sampling was done. The study of the results of blood biochemical and immune parameters showed that none of these parameters were not affected by experimental rations except for blood urea nitrogen. In association with the microbial population, results showed that the processing increased significantly in the total microbial and protozoan populations. The results of this study showed wheat grain consumption compared to unprocessed wheat and milled wheat, without negative effects on biochemical and blood safety parameters and with a positive impact on the rumen microbial population can be used for feeding fattening lambs.