Nasser, 2009. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 21 (5) Article #79

An in vitro gas production technique was used to study the effect of jojoba meal on gas production, rumen fermentation, true dry and organic matter digestibility, the activity of amylase and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMC ase) and protozoa count. Jojoba meal was added to a concentrate diet at 6%, 9% and 18% levels, substituting for cottonseed meal. A gas production technique was performed using rumen fluid collected from three fistulated Santa Ines sheep. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of incubation time. Kinetics of gas production was fitted to an exponential model. Volatile fatty acids (VFA), Ammonia-N (NH 3-N) concentrations, true dry and organic matter degradability and enzyme activity (CMCase and amylase) were determined at 24 h of incubation time. The cumulative volume of gas production was increased by adding jojoba meal. Total gas produced at 96 h of incubation time was higher for the first level of jojoba meal. The values of iso-butyrate, butyrate and iso-valerate were significantly decreased for control SAMPPLE compared to the third level of jojoba meal. No significant effects of jojoba meal on acetate, propionate and valerate concentration were seen. Also, no significant effects were observed on CH 4, NH 3-N levels or true dry and organic matter degradability at 24 h of incubation time. pH value was significantly decreased at the third level of jojoba. No significant effects of jojoba meal were observed on the specific activity of amylase in the supernatant of sonicated bottle contents, while the specific activity of CMCase was significantly decreased. The lowest protozoa count was at the third level of jojoba meal