Effect of Supplementing Sheep Diet with Glycyrrhiza glabra and Urtica dioica Powder on Growth Performance, Rumen Bacterial Community and some Blood Biochemical Constituents

In this study, nine male Dallagh sheep (initial weight 35±2 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 latin square design experiment with three treatments and three 21-day periods (14 d adaptation, 7 d collection). Treat-ments were control (without addition) and two treatment diets containing 10% dry matter Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) and Urtica dioica (nettle) powder. The dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conver-sion ratio were determined. Rumen fluid was obtained at 0, 4 and 8 hours after feeding. Also, blood samples were collected 2 h after feeding. Diet containing 10% licorice significantly increased feed conversion ratio versus control (P<0.05). In licorice treatment, lactic acid bacteria in rumen fluid were lower than nettle 8 hours after morning feeding. Sheep fed licorice had higher rumen protozoa count than control before morn-ing feeding (P<0.05). Dietary supplementations had no effect on the weight gain, dry matter intake, and total count of bacteria, coliforms, rumen pH, blood glucose, total protein, triglyceride, cholesterol, and al-bumin. In conclusion, licorice dry powder decreased lactic acid bacteria, increased feed conversion ratio, and had no significant effect on other studied factors. Also, nettle had no effect on performance, blood me-tabolite and rumen parameters.