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

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) than any of the almond hulls. For almond hulls CP was lowest (P<0.05) for PS at 21.8 g kg(-1) dry matter (DM). PS was lowest and highest (P<0.05) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) (347.0 and 544.6 g kg(-1) DM, respectively). These contents were in contrast to AF, which was highest and lowest (P<0.05) in NDF and NFC (585.9 and 144.6 g kg(-1) DM, respectively). The rapidly degradable DM fraction was the highest (P<0.05) for PS, but this value was the lowest (P<0.05) for AF. PS had a lower (P<0.05) slowly degradable DM fraction compared with the CM, SS and AF, but this value was highest (P<0.05) for AF. There was no difference (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.