Effect of physical form of diet on ruminal Fermentation and Morphological variables, intake behavior and blood metabolites in Fattening male Lambs.

This study performed for investigate effect of physical form of diet on blood metabolites, fermentative parameter and intake behaviors in sheep. For this purpose two group of animals were used, first; forty-five Kalkuhy (Iranian fat–tailed breed) male lambs, with 32 .81 ± 2 (SD) kg Initial average body weight and 110±10 (SD) days of age. The second group involved Twelve intact sheep (53±1 kg average weight, 215±10 days of age). both of groups were used in a completely random design. Diets had similar composition (80% concentrate to 20% forage). Treats included T1: TMR mixed diet (MD), T2: TMR blocked diet (BD) and T3: TMR pellet diets (PD). average of total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen and cholesterol concentration of blood were not affected by treatments (P0.05). The blood glucose concentration of PD lambs were higher than others (P0.05). Also, triglyceride and LDL concentration of BD lambs were higher than MD. The concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and the molar proportions of acetate, propionate, butyrate and the acetate: propionate ratio were unaffected by dietary treatments. However, the ruminal fluid pH was higher in PD versus BD (p 0.05). The total chewing time and time spent chewing per kg of DMI significantly was higher for BD compared to PD (P 0.05), But the total eating and ruminating time and time spent eating and ruminating per kg of DMI had no significantly alters. The times spent chewing, eating per kg of NDFI was higher in sheep by BD versus PD (P 0.05), also the times spent chewing was significant longer to sheep fed BD compared MD (P 0.05). Further, we concluded that block form of complete diet be caused DMI raised, improved rumen fermentation condition and nutrient were used better by micro flora and suggested that can be improving digestibility of low quality feeds. Key words. Sheep, physical form of diet, blood metabolites, rumen fermentation parameters and intake behavior.