Feeding formaldehyde-treated sesame meal to lactating Murciano-Granadina goats: implications on milk yield and composition, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites

Aim of study: To investigate the effect of substituting sesame meal (SM) treated with different levels of formaldehyde instead of soybean meal (SBM) on rumen fermentation, milk composition, and hemato-chemical parameters in lactating goats. Area of study: Kerman, Iran. Material and methods: Forty Murciano-Granadina goats in mid-lactation were allocated to four groups as a completely randomized design for 56 d. They were fed with diets containing: 1) SBM (control), 2) 12.5% untreated SM, 3) 12.5% treated SM with 0.8 g formaldehyde/100g crude protein (CP), and 4) 12.5% treated SM with 1.2 g formaldehyde/100g CP. Main results: The goats fed diet containing SM treated with 1.2 g of formaldehyde had greater (p < 0.01) intake of dry matter, CP and metabolizable energy (ME) than other groups. Milk yield and milk protein in goats fed diets containing 1.2 g formaldehyde-treated SM were greater than others (p < 0.01). Fat-corrected milk and total solids in groups fed diets containing formaldehyde-treated and untreated SM were greater than those in control (p < 0.01). Goats fed control diet showed a greater proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA), and short and medium-chain FA in their milk compared to other groups (p < 0.01). Partial replacement of SBM with formaldehyde-treated or untreated SM increased milk unsaturated FA and long-chain FA (p < 0.01). Goats fed formaldehyde-treated SM had lower acetate production (p < 0.01). Research highlights: Partial replacement of SBM with formaldehyde-treated SM can be suggested to increase lactating goats' performance without adverse effects on their health

Determination of Physical, Chemical and Digestibility of some Agricultural by-products

In this experiment, physical and chemical characteristics and estimation of effective fiber and digestibility of some agricultural by-products such as lerd, pulp and date kernel, grape pomace, pistachio hulls, lime and rice straw were determined by using in vitro technique. Experimental data were analyzed as a complete randomized design, with three replicates. Physical and chemical characteristics and digestibility parameters among samples were significantly different. Rice straw due to high water holding capacity and low-density mass were floating on the liquid phase of reticulo-rumen and stimulates rumination but palm seed with high bulk density tends to deposit in the rumen. Chemical characteristics such as non-fibrous carbohydrates of lemon pulp and pistachio hull and crude protein of grape pomace, lerd and pulp of date were significantly different between samples. Results of physical characteristics, particle size separation and physical effective cell wall showed that rice straw provides adequate fiber in diet. Also, to some extent physical effective cell wall can be provided by grape pomace, kernel and lerd of date. The predictions of particle size separation and physical effective cell wall were found to compare reasonably well when new Pennsylvania sieves, compare to old ones, were used. By considering physical and chemical characteristics of above mentioned agricultural by-products date pulp with non-fibrous carbohydrate and high protein content and digestibility can be used in higher amounts in ruminant diets