The Effect of Yucca schidigera Extract on Ruminal Fermentation and Parameters Traits in Sheep

摘要

In a completely randomized block design experiment, 16 ruminally cannulated sheep (40 ± 2.1 kg) fed a 50% concentrate:50% forage diet (DM basis) were given intraruminal doses of powdered Yucca schidigera extract (YSE). Doses of 0(control), 100, 200, or 300 mg kg-1 diet were given at 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. On 15, 16, and 17 d of the experimental period, ruminalcontents were sampled 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after dosing, and blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment (18thand 19th d). Acidity was not affected (P > 0.05) by the addition of YSE. Compared with the control, ruminal propionateconcentration was increased by 29.4 and 29.8% (P > 0.05) and the acetic acid concentration was decreased by 15.1 and 19.8%(P > 0.05) at 4 and 6 h after YSE (300 mg kg-1) dosing, respectively. Ruminal ammonia concentration in the first 2 h afterfeeding was higher (P 0.05),after being fed for 19 d with different doses of YSE. The effect of YSE on ruminal ammonia concentration likely resultedfrom a decreased concentration of protozoan populations and, presumably, from ammonia binding by YSE.