Effect of diets containing oak kernel on the rumen fermentation and digestibility, blood metabolites and liver enzymes in Khuzestani buffalo

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of oak kernel on rumen digestibility and fermentation, blood metabolites and liver enzymes of Khuzestani buffalo. Sixteen male buffaloes, one year old were fed with experimental diets containing different levels of oak kernel (0, 15.8%, 31.58% and 47.37% equal to 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5% tannin, respectively) in a completely randomized design for 35 days. In end of experiment, dry matter intake, digestibility, rumination behaviour, rumen and blood parameters were measured. The results showed that oak kernel increased dry matter intake and digestibility of dry matter and organic matter but the digestibility of protein, NDF and ADF was decreased. Incorporation of 47.37% oak kernel in the diet caused significant decrease in ammonia- N and protozoa population of buffalo rumen, but pH and total fatty acids were not affected. The rumination activity in diet containing 47.37% oak kernel was the lowest. With the increasing oak kernel in the buffalo diet, blood cholesterol level decreased, but there were no significant changes in blood glucose, urea, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanin amino transferase enzymes between the experimental treatments. Therefore, even if the digestibility of ADF and CP decreased by adding of oak kernel but the using of oak kernel up to 47.37% in buffalo diet had no negative effect on the rumen fermentation characteristics, digestibility and blood metabolites, hence it may be used in buffalo’s diet.