Inclusion of cocoa by-product in the diet of dairy sheep: Effect on the fatty acid profile of ruminal content and on the composition of milk and cheese.

In this study, we hypothesized that dietary cocoa bean shell (CBS) as a partial replacer of human edible cereal grains in the diet of lactating ewes may affect performance and milk and cheese composition. Twenty Comisana lactating ewes allotted into control (CTRL; n = 10) or cocoa (CBS; n = 10) group received alfalfa hay ad libitum and 800 g of conventional (CTRL) or experimental (CBS) concentrate containing 11.7% CBS to partially replace corn and barley of the CTRL concentrate.

Effect of Feeding Hazelnut Skin on Animal Performance, Milk Quality, and Rumen Fatty Acids in Lactating Ewes.

The hazelnut skin is waste biomass rich in bioactive compounds that may affect lipid rumen metabolism, ruminant performance, and products' quality. Therefore, we investigated the effect of dietary hazelnut skin on milk production and composition and on rumen fatty acids in ewes. During 28 days, 20 Comisana lactating ewes received alfalfa hay plus 800g/head/day of pelleted concentrate containing 36% dried beet pulp (CTRL group; = 10) or 36% hazelnut skin (HS group; = 10).