Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Iranian Society of Animal Science Journal of Livestock Science and Technologies 2322-3553 6 1 2018 04 01 Digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, rumen and blood parameters in sheep fed diets containing hydroponic barley fodder 9 17 2042 10.22103/jlst.2017.10424.1211 EN Z. Raeisi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. R. Tahmasbi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. O. Dayani Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. A. Ayatollahi Mehrgardi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. I. Tavassolian Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Journal Article 2017 09 23 This experiment was conducted to determine the possibility of replacing part of the barley grain by hydroponic barley fodder (HBF), and evaluating its effect on digestibility, rumen parameters, microbial protein synthesis and blood parameters in sheep. Four male Kermani sheep, 18-month-old (34.7 ± 1 kg live weight) were randomly assigned to a change over 4 × 4 design and fed the experimental diets for 21 d; 16 d for adaptation and 5 d for sample collection. Hydroponic-grown barley fodder replaced barley grain in the experimental diets. The experimental diets were: 1) control diet (without hydroponic barley fodder), 2) diet containing 7% of hydroponic barley fodder, 3) diet containing 14% of hydroponic barley fodder and 4) diet containing 21% of hydroponic barley fodder. Results showed that dry matter intake (DMI), nitrogen intake and retention and digestibility of nutrients increased (P<0.05) by increasing the amount of hydroponic barley fodder in experimental diets. Ammonia-nitrogen production changed cubically with increasing level of HBF in the experimental diets (P<0.05). In conclusion, the increase in DMI, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention suggests that up to 21% of HBF may be fed to sheep. However, an economic analysis is needed before recommendation for practical use at the farm level. https://lst.uk.ac.ir/article_2042_565d44cd0bdfecc57eaabf46ac327db9.pdf