A total of fourteen dairy farms across the central province of Isfahan were visited for sampling wheat bran (WB) and beet pulp (BP) as the main commercial non-forage fiber sources fed to ruminants. Fiber fractions were determined using approved analytical procedures. Crude protein (CP) was fractionated into NPN (A), quickly degradable true CP (B1), moderately degradable CP (B2), slowly degradable CP (B3), and unavailable CP (C), based on the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein Model. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients between fibers and CP fractions were calculated for all samples, and data for WB were analyzed in a completely randomized design. All fiber and CP fractions of WB except for C differed significantly across farms. The NPN, B3, and NDF were greater but CP, unavailable CP and B2 were lower in the WB of this study as compared to that of CNCPS feed library. The greater CP and lower fibers of BP used across Isfahan as compared to that of other reports were translated into more soluble fiber and thus more ruminally available energy in the samples of this study. The NPN, B1, and C in BP were significantly greater than the values found in the literature. Results indicated the necessity of a more dynamic evaluation of the nutrients in by-products if the diet formulation is to provide a more predictable animal response.

An experiment was conducted in order to investigate the protein quality of canola meal compared to the protein quality of cottonseed meal and some nutritional characteristics of canola in two stages.In first stage, the amount of glucosinolate was measured in canola meal and CNCPS parameters evaluations were undertaken for canola and cottonseed meals. In second stage, a completely randomized with 4 treatments and 5 replications (Atabay lambs with average body weight 31+0.5kg) in each treatment was used to investigate the effect of different levels of canola meal on T3 and T4 levels of lambs blood. The results indicated that the canola meal used in the experiment contained about 14.75 micromole per gram DM aliphatic glucosinolates. Moreover, evaluation of CNCPS showed that there are some differences between these meals especially in B2 fraction of crude protein.The results of the next stage, indicated that the effect of different levels of canola meal on T3 and T4 levels was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Therefore, canola meal can be substituted in replace of cottonseed meal without any problem.

The purpose of this experiment was to make a comparison of performance of lactating dairy cows fed rations, formulated by Spartan (1) and CNCPS (2). The 16 lactating dairy cows (8 cows in second and 8 cows in third) with DIM=55 ± 33, body weight=622 ± 42Kg, milk yield=31 ± 1/8 Kg/day), assigned in a randomized completely block design in individual pen. The cows fed individually with the formulated rations as TMR for 90 days after 15 days adaptation period. The milk yield of cows that fed ration 1 and 2 were 31.34 and 31.4 Kg/d, milk fat were 3.35% and 3.25% and milk protein were 2.91% and 3.01% respectively, there were no significant difference between two groups as far as mentioned traits (p>0.05). There were not any significant differences for pregnancy rate (P>0/05). The average DMI for rations 1 and 2 were 22.5 and 22.34 Kg/day is considered, respectively (p>0.05). Average daily crude protein intake of the rations while that was 3625 and 3470 g/d respectively, that was significantly different (p<0.05).However the CNCPS predicted a lower requirement of protein than Spartan for lactating dairy cows while that It was enough to support milk production such Spartan ration of this experiment did. The cost of each Kg feed per milk yield for rations 1 and 2 were 1380 and 1250 respectively, (p<0.05). the result showed that the CNCPS formulated a cheaper ration than Spartan that also it can be recommended to dairy farms as far as milk profit considered (p<0.05).

Quality of protein fractions, according to Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), and digestibility coefficients, using Tilley and Terry procedure, of the fresh and ensiled amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) forage were assessed. The concentration of Crude Protein (CP) and True Protein (TP) in the fresh forage, were respectively 116 and 70 g/kg of DM. Soluble Protein (SP) and A, B1, B2, B3 and C fractions were 411, 395, 16, 349, 158, and 82 g/kg of CP, respectively. Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and Organic Matter Digestible in Dry Matter (OMDDM) of fresh amaranth were respectively 712, 677, and 586 g/kg, and as well Metabolisable Energy (ME) was 9.2 MJ/kg of DM. Ensiling process resulted in increase in CP, SP, and A as well as B1 fractions, while a decline observed in TP, B2, B3 and C fractions (P<0.05). Also, DMD of ensiled amaranth was significantly less than that for fresh forage. On the other hand, it was found that addition of molasses into the silage decreased CP, TP and as well B2, B3 and C fractions, while increasing A and B1 fractions as well as digestibility coefficients (P<0.05). It is finally concluded that based on the moderate CP value and good digestibility, amaranth benefits from the potential as a recommendable livestock forage. Ensiling process decreased digestibility and protein quality, however, addition of molasses to the silage improved the fermentation quality of the final ensiled product.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of sun-drying, ensiling and addition of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) on deactivation of tannins in the Pistachio By-products Hull (PBH). The chemical composition, protein quality and phenolic compounds of fresh pistachio by-products hull, sun-dried and ensiled for either 30 or 60 days were assessed. Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME), either with or without PEG addition were assessed. Moreover, protein quality as according to CNCPS was determined. Following ensiling Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC), NDFom, ADFom and protein fractions B3 and C decreased (P<0.05), while the content of protein fractions A and B1 were increased (P<0.05). The concentrations of NDFom, ADFom, lignin (sa), NDIN and ADIN in dried PBH were increased (P<0.05), although, the content of WSC and protein fraction B2 decreased (P<0.05). Ensiling for 60 days caused decrease in the condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins and protein precipitable phenolics (P<0.05). Adding PEG to fresh, sun-dried and ensiled PBH, however, increased the ME and OMD (P<0.05). In conclusion, adding PEG to fresh, sun-dried and ensilaged PBH increased (P<0.05) ME and OMD demonstrating the positive influence of PEG, not evident in either mere sun-drying or mere ensiling, on inactivation of tannins in PBH.

Effects of Condensed Tannins (CT) on crude protein availability in sainfoin hay was investigated according to most popular ruminant feeding systems. Different treatments including Polyethylene Glycol (6000 MW), sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, potassium permanganate, wood ash, water and urea, were applied for deactivation of CT Crude protein fractioning was determined using nylon bag technique,  AFRC and CNCPS systems. Total phenolic compounds, total tannin and condensed tannin content of control hay were 39.4, 38.5 and 21.3 g/kg DM, respectively. PEG and water treatments resulted in higher CT deactivation values as compared with other treatments. Ruminal crude protein degradability, effective degradability and metabolizable protein content, in sainfoin hay, significantly increased with tannin deactivation. Condensed tannin deactivation, caused the reduction of C fraction in CNCPS while increasing crude protein availability. It can be concluded that deactivation of condensed tannins could lead to an increase in crude protein availability in sainfoin hay. Nonetheless PEG, water and wood ash are the most effective in increasing nitrogen availability. No chemicals are employed in water treatment, it benefits from economic justification and ease of use, and is finally concluded as a low cost practical procedure for the processing of sainfoin on the farm.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of hulled and hull-less barley grains’ chemical treatment on disappearance of dry matter (DM), starch and CNCPS carbohydrate fractions. For barley grain treatment, NaOH, formaldehyde and urea were used at 35, 4 and 35 gr/kg DM respectively. Three mature rams (one year old) of Zel breed were rumen cannulated to calculate ruminal disappearance (percent) of DM and starch. Incubation time of nylon bags were 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours. To evaluate CNCPS carbohydrate fraction characteristics, its parameters were measured. Rumen content disappearance results indicated that NaOH and formaldehyde treatment had protective effect on DM and starch from rumen digestion leading to better results rather than urea treatment and control groups. Also, starch disappearance of hulled barley was lower than hull-less barley (P<0.05). Chemical treatment of barley grains significantly affected CNCPS carbohydrate fraction characteristics. Each chemical treatment method (in comparison to control) had significant decreasing effects on high speed degradation of such fractions as A and B1 (P<0.05). C fraction or indigestible fiber in hulled barley (with no treatment) was maximum (1.00%) exhibiting had significant difference with those treated with formaldehyde and urea (P<0.05). Therefore based upon the obtained results, rumen content disappearance showed its most effectiveness of NaOH and formaldehyde groups rather than urea and control, but CNCPS fractions were not significantly affected by different chemical processings.

Different supplementary enzymes have used widely in diets for ruminants and non-ruminants over the past decade. The present study investigated the effects of feeding natuzyme (enzyme supplement) on feedlot performance, feed digestibility and rumen metabolites of Varamini male lambs. Twenty-four Varamini male lambs (initial body weight 22±1.5Kg with 3 to 4 months age) used in a completely randomized design for 84 days. The lambs were randomly allocated to three rations of 1) without enzyme, control diet, 2) with 0.5 g/kg of feed natuzyme, 3) with 1 g/kg of feed natuzyme with 8 replication. Basal diet was formulated according to CNCPS for sheep. Daily dry matter intake and monthly average gain of lambs recorded and digestibility of basal diet measured with chromic oxide as external marker. At the end of examination, rumen liquid samples collected from lambs and its pH and ammonia nitrogen were measured. The results showed that diets did not make significant effect on the average daily gain, dry matter intake and feed conversion ratio in lambs. Meanwhile, digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of basal diet, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen did not show difference between diets. We concluded that use of 0.5 or 1 g/kg of feed natuzyme did not make significant effect on the performance of Varamini male lambs.