Effect of Dietary Energy Source on Ruminal Fermentation, Venous Blood Gases and Various Blood Metabolites of Baluchi Sheep

Abstract

Aims: Present study was to determine the effects of dietary energy source diets such as<br><br>glucogenic and lipogenic nutrients on ruminal fermentation characteristics, venous blood<br><br>gases and concentration plasma metabolites in Baluchi sheep.<br><br>Study Design: Latin square design with 3 periods (28 days).<br><br>Place and Duration of Study: Department of animal science, Faculty of agriculture,<br><br>Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, between March 2012 and May 2012.<br><br>Methodology: Experimental diets were a glucogenic, a lipogenic or a mixture of<br><br>glucogenic and lipogenic diets (50:50). The animals were fed diets consisted of 50%<br><br>chopped alfalfa hay and 50% concentrate. Ruminal fluid samples were collected before the<br><br>feeding until 8 hour post feeding at day 24 of the each experimental period. Blood samples<br><br>were taken from jugular vein before the feeding, 2, 4 and 6 h post feeding at day 26 of<br><br>each period. In order to determine venous blood gases and pH, jugular blood samples<br><br>were collected using heparinized syringes before and 4 h after feeding on day 27.<br><br>Results: Results indicated that glucose and insulin concentration was decreased in sheep<br><br>consume lipogenic diet (P&lt;0.05). There were not significant differences between diets in<br><br>regard of both ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration. Furthermore, blood pH<br><br>and venous blood gases did not differ among diets (P&gt;0.05).<br><br>Conclusion: Feeding the mixture of glucogenic and lipogenic diets (50:50) improved