The chemical composition of forages varies during the day. The natural fermentation characteristics of silage may be influenced by these variations. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of cutting time (morning vs. afternoon) on chemical composition, gas production parameters, and digestibility and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa, clover, and barley silage using the gas production method. Alfalfa, clover, and barley forages were harvested twice in the morning (06:00) and the afternoon (18:00). Forages were ensiled in laboratory silos in triplicate at each cutting time and analyzed after 45 days to determine fermentation characteristics. After 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours of incubation, the cumulative gas production was measured. After a 24-hour incubation period, the dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME), pH, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were determined. Gas production at different times, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), starch, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, net energy for lactation (NEl), and net energy for growth (NEg) were also measured. The results indicated that afternoon-cut forages had lower levels of NDF and ADF than morning-cut forages (P<0.05), as well as greater amounts of starch and WSC. Afternoon-cut ensiled forages had higher dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), NEl, and NEg and lower pH, significantly. Afternoon-cut forages had a higher gas production potential than morning-cut forages. In general, it may be concluded that delaying harvest time from morning to afternoon can improve the nutritional value of forage. تفاصيل المقالة

In this study, nine male Dallagh sheep (initial weight 35±2 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 latin square design experiment with three treatments and three 21-day periods (14 d adaptation, 7 d collection). Treatments were control (without addition) and two treatment diets containing 10% dry matter Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) and Urtica dioica (nettle) powder. The dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio were determined. Rumen fluid was obtained at 0, 4 and 8 hours after feeding. Also, blood samples were collected 2 h after feeding. Diet containing 10% licorice significantly increased feed conversion ratio versus control (P<0.05). In licorice treatment, lactic acid bacteria in rumen fluid were lower than nettle 8 hours after morning feeding. Sheep fed licorice had higher rumen protozoa count than control before morning feeding (P<0.05). Dietary supplementations had no effect on the weight gain, dry matter intake, and total count of bacteria, coliforms, rumen pH, blood glucose, total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol, and albumin. In conclusion, licorice dry powder decreased lactic acid bacteria, increased feed conversion ratio, and had no significant effect on other studied factors. Also, nettle had no effect on performance, blood metabolite and rumen parameters. تفاصيل المقالة