The Effect of Different Rations on Some Rumen Fluid and Blood Parameters in Sheep

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different combinations of energy (barley and dried molassed sugar beet pulp (DMSBP)) and protein sources (soybean meal (SBM), cotton-seed meal (CSM), SBM-treated with formaldehyde (FTSBM), CSM-treated with formaldehyde (FTCSM), and urea) on some rumen fluid and blood parameters. In this study, four rumen fistulated Morkaraman rams were used. Rumen pH values were around the optimal pH values suggested for rumen fluid (5.2-7.3) at all sampling times. Ruminal NHO concentrations were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in animals fed DMSBP as an energy source compared with animals fed barley as an energy source and were between 10.4 and 32.75 mg/100 ml in all groups. Formaldehyde treatments of protein sources reduced ruminal NHYN concentrations in animals fed DSBP as an energy source (P < 0.05). Acetic and propionic acid concentrations were affected by the energy source, although butyric acid concentrations were significantly higher in animals fed groups containing barley than in animals fed groups containing DMSBP. Formaldehyde treatment did not affect propionic acid concentrations, although propionic acid concentrations were generally significantly higher (P < 0.05) in animals fed barley + SBM combinations compared to treatments containing both SBM and CSM combinations (P < 0.05). Serum total protein concentrations were affected by the energy source and these were higher in groups containing DMSBP than in groups containing barley (P < 0.05). However, serum urea-N concentrations were similar among the different diets.