The Effect of Yucca schidigera Extract on Ruminal Fermentation and Parameters Traits in Sheep

Abstract

In a completely randomized block design experiment, 16 ruminally cannulated sheep (40±2.1 kg) fed a 50% concentrate: 50% forage diet (DM basis) were given intraruminal doses of powdered Yucca schidigera extract (YSE). Doses of 0 (control), 100, 200, or 300 mg kg −1 diet were given at 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. On 15, 16, and 17 d of the experimental period, ruminal contents were sampled 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after dosing, and blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment (18th and 19th d). Acidity was not affected ( P > 0.05) by the addition of YSE. Compared with the control, ruminal propionate concentration was increased by 29.4 and 29.8% ( P > 0.05) and the acetic acid concentration was decreased by 15.1 and 19.8% ( P > 0.05) at 4 and 6 h after YSE (300 mg kg −1) dosing, respectively. Ruminal ammonia concentration in the first 2 h after feeding was higher ( P < 0.05) in the sheep that did not receive YSE (increased by 17.57 mg 100 mL −1) than in those that received 200 mg kg −1 (increased by 6.77 mg 100 mL −1) or 300 mg kg −1 (increased by 6.50 mg 100 mL −1) YSE. Protozoan populations in the rumen were lower ( P < 0.05) in the animals that received 300 mg kg −1 of YSE compared with the control. All serum parameters of the four groups were in the normal range and were similar among the treatment groups ( P > 0.05), after being fed for 19 d with different doses of YSE. The effect of YSE on ruminal ammonia concentration likely resulted from a decreased concentration of protozoan populations and, presumably, from ammonia binding by YSE.