Effects of Yucca Schidigera Powder Added to Lamb Ration on Rumen Total Number of Protozoa and pH

This study investigated different levels of Yucca schidigera (YS) powder added to lamb ration on total rumen number of protozoa and pH. Twenty-four 2.5-month-old weaned male Akkaraman lambs were used in the study. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups. Each group contained 8 lambs, they were divided into 4 subgroup each of them consisting 2 lambs. One of the groups fed with grower diet (Control (C)). The other groups were fed with same diet but additionally 100 ppm (YS100) or 200 ppm (YS 200) YS powder added their diet. Additionally, all the animals were fed 125 g/d wheat straw. The study lasted for 80 days as 10 days for adaptation and 70 days for experimental period. Rumen fluids samples were taken at the end of the experimental period, and then the total numbers of protozoa and pH (at 0., 2., 4., 6. hours after feeding) were determined. There were no differences among the groups in terms of the total numbers of protozoa. Rumen pH of YS100 group was higher than other groups for second hour after feeding. There were no differences on the pH among the groups all other times. While results of this study revealed that 100 or 200 ppm YS powder added to lamb ration had not effect total numbers of protozoa, it was observed to increase the rumen pH in a certain times.