Ruminal microbial fermentation of dromedary camel in a dual flow continu-ous culture system using cultivable and pasture forages

Abstract

In this experiment eight 1,600 mL dual-flow continuous culture fermenters were used to measure the fermentation pattern of cultivable and pasture forages in camel. Two adult camels were used as rumen inocula donors. Fermenters were fed with 120 g of DM/d in 3 equal portions at 08:00, 16:00, and 24:00 h. The trial contained two treatments of four replicate each in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted (DM basis) of alfalfa hay (40%) and wheat straw (60%) as the cultivable forages, and Atriplex L. (80%), Suaeda F. (10%), and Seidlitzia R. (10%) as the pasture forages. Digestibility coefficients of DM, NDF and ADF were significantly smaller (P