M Nasehi - Department of Ruminant and Poultry nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
N.M Torbatinejad - Department of Ruminant and Poultry nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
S Zerehdaran - Department of Ruminant and Poultry nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
A.R Safaei - Department of Ruminant and Poultry nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of biological treatment with Pleurotus florida fungi on chemical composition and rumen dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability of Soybean and Canola straw. Fungi cultivation significantly decreased the amount of DM in treatments (P<0.05). Ash and crude protein (CP) content significantly increased with processing by fungi in treatments (P<0.01). The amount of Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) significantly decreased by fungi cultivation (P<0.05). Ether extract (EE), Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and Acid detergent lignin (ADL) content of treatment did not significant difference with processing by fungi. The soluble fraction (a) and potential degradability (a+b) of DM degradability significantly increased with processing in treatments (P<0.01). The insoluble but potentially degradable fraction (b) of DM degradability significantly increased with processing by fungi in Soybean straw (P<0.01) but did not significant difference in Canola straw. The (a) fraction of Canola straw OM degradability significantly increased by processing (P<0.05) but did not significant difference in Soybean straw. The (b) fraction of Soybean straw OM degradability significantly increased by processing (P<0.05) but did not significant difference in Canola straw. The (a+b) fraction of OM degradability significantly increased with processing in treatments (P<0.05). This research results generally reflect improvement in nutritive value of Soybean and Canola straw with treatment by fungi in ruminant nutrition.

Fungi, Nylon bag, Sheep, Straw