The effect of feeding of Mentha pulegium pulp silage with wasted date on dry matter intake,digestibility and ruminal and blood parameters of Kermani mature rams

The use of agricultural by-products and waste because of its high value of nutrients, is possible in the preparation of animal feed. About 950 tons of Mentha pulegium pulp is produced annually in Iran. If this pulp dries well, it can be used in animal feed due to its nutritional value. Due to the fact that moisture is a limiting factor for animal feed storage, ensiling can eliminate this limitation. This study was to evaluate of chemical composition of Mentha pulegium pulp silage with wasted date and its feeding effects on - dry matter intake, microbial protein yield and blood parameters in sheep.

400 kg of Mentha pulegium pulp were mixed thoroughly with 30 kg of wasted date at levels of 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 % (DM basis) and ensiled for 45 days. After determining the chemical composition and sensory assessment of the silages, level of 20 % (DM basis) was used in experimental diets. For determine the effects of Mentha pulegium pulp silage on sheep, four mature ram (with 40 ± 2 live weight) were used in a change-over design with four periods of 21 days. In the 5 days at the end of each period at 0, 3, 6 and 9 h after morning feeding, rumen fluid was sampled from sheep by esophagous tube and were filtered through three layers of cheesecloth. Blood samples were collected at the end of each period and 4 h after morning feeding in 10 mL. To determine the amount of allantoin and microbial protein synthesis, the daily urine produced during 24 hours was collected.

According to the sensory assessment, silages containing of wasted date get score of very good of 20. Adding wasted date to Mentha pulegium pulp increased the DM and ether extract of silages. DM intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein and NDF of experimental diets were not affected by silages of Mentha pulegium pulp with different levels of wasted date. Nitrogen intake, nitrogen excretion and the percentage of nitrogen retention were not affected by experimental diets. Total purine derivatives and microbial protein synthesis did not change. The level of blood cholesterol and albumin were significantly changed by feeding diets containing Mentha pulegiumsilage with wasted date (p < 0.05).

In conclusion, could be used Mentha pulegium pulp silage up to 20 % without additives or with wasted date in sheep diet.