EFFECT OF RECYCLED POULTRY BEDDING TREATED WITH PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS EXTRACTED FROM POMEGRANATE PEEL ON IN VITRO DIGESTION ACTIVITY OF RUMEN MICROBES

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of treating recycled poultry bedding (RPB), with phenolic compounds extracted from pomegranate peel on in vitro digestion and fermentation activity of rumen bacteria and fungi. The eight treatments were included by adding pomegranate peel extract (PPE) to RPB at levels 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35% of dry matter (DM). With increasing amount of PPE to 15 and 20%, respectively potential and volume of gas production of mixed rumen microorganisms were unchanged. Treatment RPB with PPE decreased rumen ammonia-N concentration (P<0.05), and increased partitioning factor (PF), microbial biomass (MB) production and efficiency of MB in compared to control treatment. Increasing the levels of PPE had no significant effect on DM digestibility by rumen bacteria in days 1 and 2. However, it was decreased 3 days after incubation by adding 25 and 30% PPE, but not 20% (P<0.05). The culture medium ammonia-N concentration in 6 days after incubation decreased, at levels 25 and 30% PPE (P<0.05). Results of present study showed that treatment RPB with PPE up to 25% of dry matter, had no negative effects on digestion and fermentation activity of mixed rumen microorganisms and fungi, and resulted in improve nitrogen metabolism in ruminants via decreasing rumen NH3-N concentration.