Influence of slow-release nitrogen and different source of non-structural carbohydrates supplementation to groundnut straw on digestibility and some rumen parameters in sheep and goats

Influence of Slow-Release Nitrogen and Different Source of Non-Structural Carbohydrates Supplementation to Groundnut Straw on Digestibility and Some Rumen Parameters in Sheep and Goats The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient composition of groundnut straw which is by-product of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) grown in Karpuzlu/Aydın, accomplish comparative observation of feed consumption and digestibility in sheep and goats. It was also aimed to investigate the influence of slow-release nitrogen (SRN) and/or non-structural carbonhydrates supplementation on groundnut straw digestibility and some rumen parameters in the study. There were three successive experiments in the study. In Experiment I, nutrient composition of different groundnut straw samples from different producers in Karpuzlu/Aydın were determined. In Experiment II, six 1-1,5 years old male sheep and six male goats were used as animal material. The study was lasted in 21 days including seven days adaptation and 14 days sampling period. Two different groups were formed according to species (sheep and goat). Animals were housed in individual pens and fresh water, groundnut straw were given ad libitum. Four male sheep and four male goats used in in Experiment III were transfered from Experiment II. Experiment III was conducted as Latin-square experimental design with 4 periods (each lasted in 15 days) of adaptation (10 days) and sampling period (5 days). Experimental diets were fed twice a day (at 08.00 am and 04.30 pm) ad libitum in adaptation period and 90% of average level of adaptation feed in sampling period. In the experiment, four experimental groups according to animal species were formed as: [R1; groundnut straw, R2; groundnut straw + SRN (10 g/day/animal), R3; groundnut straw + SRN (10 g/day/animal) + molasses (10% DM), R4; groundnut straw + SRN (10 g/day/animal) + corn starch (5% DM)]. In Experiment I chemical analysis in groundnut straws showed 6,10 to 11,66% of crude protein, 6,88 to 11,70% of crude ash and 47,00 to 56,19% of NDF. The results of Experiment II indicate that DM intake (% BW and kg BW0,75) in goats was higher than sheep and in paralel to this daily BW gain was found higher in goats. The examination of refused groundnut straw with Pennsylvania State separator indicate that sheep and goats have differences (P?0,01, P?0,001) in selection of feed particle size. SRN and non-structural carbonhydrate supplementataion had positive effect on daily gain in both species and highest value was confirmed in group R4 (P?0,001). Dietary supplementations had no significant effect on DM intake or NDF and ADF digestibilities in sheep. A significant (P<0.05) difference among group R4 and other dietary groups was found in DM digestibility. OM digestibility was affected significantly (P?0,001) by SRN and/or non-structural carbonhydrate supplementation to diet. In goats, there was no significant difference in DM intake, DM, NDF and ADF digestibilities among experimental groups. OM digestibility was higher (P?0,05) in R4 compared to other groups. DM digestibility in groundnut straw was found higher (P?0,05) in goats (46,75%) than in sheep (41,75%). DM intake per metabolic BW (R1, R2,R4 no significant, R3 P?0,05), DM (R1, R3, R4 P?0,05, R2 P?0,01), OM (R4 no significant, R1, R2, R3 P?0,05), NDF (no significant) and ADF (R2, R4 no significant, R1, R3 P?0,05) digestibilities have determined higher at goats than sheep. At 2 h of sampling rumen content pH, acetic, propionic and butyric acid levels were found similar, ammonia nitrogen levels have shown significant differences between treatment groups (sheep P<0,01 and goat P<0,05) in sheep and goats. All rumen parameters at 6 h of sampling were found similar for both species. When comparing species all rumen parameters at 2 and 6 h of sampling showed no significant differences between groups except ammonia nitrogen level of R4 at 2 h of sampling (P?0,05). When compared to time interval, pH at 2 h was higher than 6 h (P?0,001) whereas ammonia level was decrased (P?0,001) at 6 h of sampling in both sheep and goats. Acetic, propionic and butyric acid levels were found similar in sheep, acetic and butyricacid levels were similar but propionic acid level was found different (P?0,001) in goats depending on sampling period. In both sheep and goats, N intake (sheep P?0,01, goat P?0,001), urinary N (P?0,001) and N digestibility (P?0,001) were improved with supplementation. Fecal N amounts were confirmed similar in sheep, different (P?0,05) in goats, N balance levels were found different (P?0,01) in sheep but similar in goats. It was demonstrated that groundnut straw may satisfy needs of animal at slightly above maintenance level and supplementations (SRN and/or non-structural carbohydrate) to groundnut straw have positive effect on digestibility and bioavailability of this product more in goats than sheep.