Estimation of Degradability Kinetics, Energy and Organic Matter Digestibility of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Leaves Silage by in vitro Gas Production Technique

摘要

This study was conducted to evaluate of date palm leaves {Phoenix dactylifera L.) silage or dry as alternative for ruminants using in vitro gas production technique. Rumen liquor was obtained from four Naimey sheep fed on barely and alfalfa hay (slaughter house). The mixture of rumen fluid with buffer 1: 2 v/v, 30 mL were placed into each syringe, containing the samples. The incubation procedure was repeated three times. The gas production was recorded after 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Potential Degradability (a+b) and gas production rate (c) were measured. Metabolizable Energy (ME), Net Energy (NE), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and Microbial Protein (MP) were also determined. Crude protein in date palm leaves silage was higherthan that in dry form in date palm leaves, the values were 5.80 and 4.83%, respectively. Crude fiber was 34.92 and 32.23% for dry and silage of date palm leaves, respectively. There was no difference in pH between date palm leaves in both forms (dry andsilage) and the values were 6.22 and 6.62 for dry date palm leaves and date palm leaves silage, respectively. The present study conclude that date palm leaves could be suitable for ruminants as a source of fiber which used as an energy source for host animal and microbes in the rumen. It can be used in dry form to provide ensiling time as alternative feeds for ruminants.