The Effect of Feeding Tribulus terrestris Plant Powder on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Rumen and Blood Parameters of Iranian Arabic Lambs

The effect of feeding Tribulus terrestris plant powder on performance, digestibility, protozoa morphology, blood and rumen parameters in Iranian Arabic lambs were studied. Eighteen 3 months old Iranian Arabic male lambs with average weight of 16 (±2) kg were assigned to a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 6 replicates for 60 days. Experimental treatments were control ration and rations with 15 and 30 g Tribulus terrestris plant powder per kg dry matter. The treatments with Tribulus terrestris had the higher protein intake compared to control (P<0.05). The natural detergent fiber digestibility, amount of rumen ammonia nitrogen, the Diplodinium, Ophryoscolex and the total protozoa population in rations con-taining Tribulus terrestris was lower than control treatment (P<0.05). As ammonia nitrogen amount was 12.98, 9.87 and 9.68 mg/dL for control, 15 and 30 g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. But the Entodinium and Eudiplodinium population were not different (P>0.05). The content of cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, urea and glucose of blood and liver enzymes of lambs treated with experimental rations were lower than control group; and the high density lipoprotein was higher (P<0.05). The content of low density lipoprotein was 12, 9 and 8 mg/dL for control, 15 and 30 g/kg DM, respectively. According to this current study, effect of feeding Tribulus terrestris plant powder to fattening lambs had significant effect on digestibility, rumen fermentation and blood parameters of Iranian Arabic fattening lambs.