The effect of different levels of water salinity on the rumen degradability of dry matter and protein of alfalfa hay using nylon bags technique in Iranian shal sheep

Abstract

Introduction: The quantity and quality of water are of the most important environmental
challenges in the world's arid and semi-arid regions, including Iran. In the present
conditions, water shortage as well as water salinity are the most important threats to the
livestock and poultry industry in Iran and even many parts of the world. The aim of this
study was to investigate the effect of different levels of water salinity on rumen
degradability of dry matter and crude protein of alfalfa hay using nylon bags technique in
Iranian shal rams.
Materials and Methods: Rumen degradability of dry matter and crude protein of alfalfa
hay were determined by nylon bags technique at different times using eight cannulated
Iranian Shal rams which received different levels of drinking saline water including control
group (480), 4000, 8000 and 12000 mg/L.
Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the
experimental treatments in terms of dry matter degradability in most incubation times, but
there was no significant difference in protein degradability (except for 0, 2 and 72 h
incubation times). At the longest incubation time, dry matter degradability increased with
increasing salinity level. There was a significant difference between the treatments in terms
of effective degradability of dry matter; but the effective degradability of the protein was
not affected by the experimental treatments. Quickly degradable protein (QDP) decreased
and slowly degradable protein (SDP) increased by enhancing salinity level. Metabolizable
protein (MP) was significantly different between experimental treatments. The highest
amount of MP was observed in the highest salinity level treatment and there was no
significant difference between other salinity levels and control treatment .
Conclusion: In general, it seems that increasing salinity level affects rumen degradability
of alfalfa hay. The treatment containing 12000 mg/L TDS decreased the amount of quickly
degradable protein and increased the metabolizable protein.