The effect of different levels of molasses on the digestibility, rumen parameters and blood metabolites in sheep fed processed broiler litter

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology Vol. 179; no. 1-4; pp. 69 - 76
• Main Authors: Azizi-Shotorkhoft, A, Rezaei, J, Fazaeli, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 31-01-2013
• Subjects: barley; blood; blood composition; corn; crude protein; diet; digestibility; Energy source; fatty acid composition; metabolites; Microbial protein; molasses; poultry manure; Processed broiler litter; rumen; Ruminal parameters; Sheep; volatile fatty acids; NDFom; WSC; Lignin(sa); DM; TPD; BL; L; Microbial protein; CP; VFA; Energy source; MPS; Q; ADFom; HBL; PD; D-value; ME; Ruminal parameters; Processed broiler litter; Sheep; BUN; OM
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.12.001

A 28-d experiment was performed to evaluate the influence of replacing dietary corn/barley with molasses at levels of 0 (M0), 50 (M50) and 100 (M100) g/kg dietary dry matter (DM), as energy sources, in the diets containing heat-processed broiler litter (HBL) (240g/kg DM) in male Moghani sheep. Digestibility, microbial protein supply (MPS), ruminal parameters and blood metabolites were measured. The digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) in experimental sheep linearly increased (L, P=0.01) as level of molasses enhanced in the diets. Addition of molasses to diet linearly increased MPS (L, P=0.01) compared to sheep fed the control diet. Ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations linearly declined (L, P<0.05) as level of molasses increased in the diet. There was no difference (P>0.05) in ruminal volatile fatty acid concentrations, except a linear increase in the molar proportion of butyrate (L, P=0.02) among the molasses supplemented groups. Blood urea-N linearly decreased (L, P=0.02) in sheep fed molasses compared to the control group. It can be concluded that replacing corn/barley with molasses in sheep diet improved the utilization of the diet containing HBL.