Evaluation of Pomegranate Pomace Using in Situ and Gas Production Techniques

This study was carried out to determine nutritive value of pomegranate pomace using in situ and gas production techniques. In this study, two fistulated wethers （38 ± 1.5 kg） were used in situ method. The gas production was measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h and ruminal DM （dry matter） and CP （crude protein） disappearances were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h. DM degradabilities of treated pomegranate pomace at 8 h to 96 h were larger than untreated pomegranate pomacewhich showed significant differences （p 〈 0.05）. CP degradabilities of treated pomegranate pomace at 96 h was 62.38% that showed significant differences （p 〈 0.05）. The metabolizable proteins of treated and untreated pomegranate pomace were 73 and 64.27 g/kg respectively that showed significant differences （p 〈 0.05）. The gas productions of treated and untreated pomegranate pomace at 48 h were 79.91 and 128.75 mL/g DM respectively that showed significant differences （p 〈 0.05）. It was concluded that the pomegranate pomace can be used largely as ruminant feeds.