Abstract 286

Maglad,-MA; Lutfi-AAA; Gabir,-S

Dep. Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Univ. Khartoum, PO Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan.

Animal-FeedScience-andTechnology. 1986, 15: 1, 69-77; 18 ref.

The effect of grinding and alkali teatment of groundnut hulls included at 20% with concentrates in mixed diets on digestibility of diet and on ruminal and blood components was studied in Desert rams. Alkali treatment of both coarse and ground hulls decreased ether extract and silica content of hulls, but increased acid detergent-insoluble nitrogen. Alkali treatment of coarse hulls included with concentrates in mixed diets had no effect on digestibility of DM components of the diet except CP, but decreased digestibility when ground hulls were included. The inclusion of alkali-treated ground hulls in the diet also decreased N balance when compared with alkali-treated coarse hulls. The inclusion of alkali-treated coarse hulls in the diet decreased ruminal ammonia N and blood urea and increased blood serum glucose concentrations.