Nutritive evaluation of olive tree leaves for sheep
1993
Zervas, G. | Fegeros, K. | Michalochristas, D. (Agricultural Univ., Athens (Greece). Dept. of Animal Nutrition) | Wastardis, I. (Agricultural Univ., Athens (Greece). Dept. of Dairy Science)
Olive trees leaf (OTL) is a fibrous by-product which is usually discarded following olive harvesting. The leaves are separated before olive processing in the olive oil factories and can be used fresh or ensiled as a feed for ruminant animals. The purpose of this study was to determine their chemical composition, their nutritive value, and whether the inclusion of OTL in lactating dairy sheep diets has any effect on milk production and milk composition. Diet had no significant effect on milk yield but increased significalty (P0.001) the fat percentage of milk and caused a significant (P0.01) reduction in milk protein. No significant differences in milk lactose content were observed. Fatty acid composition of milk fat was affected by OTL with a significant (P0.001) decrease of short chain (C6 to C16:1) fatty acids and an increase of long chain (C18, C18:1) fatty acids. Fat contained in OTL may be responsible for these changes.
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