Chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber from almond hulls

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability of almond hulls in comparison with alfalfa hay (AF). Almond hulls represented two varieties for which the common names are stone shell (SS) and paper shell (PS) and a commercial mixture (CM). The crude protein (CP) of AF was higher (P 0.05) in the slowly degradable NDF fraction among AF, CM and PS but it was greatest (P<0.05) for SS. Almond hulls have high potential degradability of DM and degradability index value of DM compared to AF. SS and PS had a higher effective degradability (ED) of DM compared with AF. AF and SS had a higher ED of NDF compared with AF and PS. Results showed that almond hulls as a horticultural by-product have a medium nutritive value and can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants.