Intake, digestion, and nitrogen balance of sheep fed shrub foliage and medic pods as a supplement to wheat straw

摘要: Abstract Low animal performance in arid and semi-arid areas of Morocco is mainly due to protein energy deficiencies available forages. A metabolism trial was conducted evaluate the influence supplementation with shrub foliage medic ( Medicago sp.) pods on nitrogen (N) utilization by sheep fed low-quality roughage. Diets were wheat Triticum aestivum L.) straw (WS), WS plus alfalfa sativa hay (AH), oldman saltbush Atriplex nummularia Lindl.) (AN), blue wattle Acacia cyanophylla (AC), (MP). Alfalfa feeding level set provide a crude (CP) concentration 90 g kg −1 dry matter (DM) diet. Shrub offered ad libitum. Average intake levels for AN, AC, MP 37.2, 32.4, 47.2% DM, respectively. Chemical composition vitro disappearance (IVDMD) measured. Digestible (DDMI) greatest P −0.75 ), followed diet (30.0 ). Unsupplemented diets had lowest DDMI (21.3 The daily N balance supplemented degradability then investigate rate extent DM CP digestion same forages rumen. Forage samples incubated 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 h. Rate highest Extent degradation