Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the chemical composition of canola meal and estimation of the effects of two doses (0 and 0.15 ml / 200 mg canola meal samples) of Thymus vulgar extract on canola meal degradability by in vitro gas producing techniques. Fermentation of canola meal samples were carried out with rumen fluid obtained from three mature canulated steers. The amount of gas production for canola meal at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h were measured. The results show that the crude protein, ether extract and crude ash were 35, 3.4 and 7.14%, respectively. Calculated amounts of in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME), short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and net energy for lactation (NEl) contents of thymus vulgar extract (0.15 ml / 200 mg canola meal samples) were 54.329%, 58.13 g/kg DM, 6.50 MJ/kg DM, 0.6708 mmol and 3.33 MJ/kg DM, respectively.

Key words: In vitro dry matter digestibility, canola meal, thymus vulgar extract, gas production technique, organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy.