Original Scientific Article
The effect of beetroot extract with silver nano particles on rumen parameters in Awassi lambs
Tamara Natiq Dawood *

Mac Vet Rev 2025; 48 (1): 77 - 85

10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0017

Received: 16 June 2024

Received in revised form: 23 October 2024

Accepted: 27 November 2024

Available Online First: 25 February 2025

Published on: 15 March 2025

Correspondence: Tamara Natiq Dawood, tamara.natiq@covm.uobaghdad.edu.iq
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Abstract

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a root vegetable with deep red color, rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, having  numerous health benefits. The current study aimed to determine the effect of beetroot extract with silver nanoparticles  (AgNPs) on the rumen pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), total bacterial and protozoal count in Awassi lambs. The  beetroot extract was obtained by Soxhlet apparatus. The AgNPs were synthesized from the aqueous beetroot extract. Ten  lambs aged (3-6 months) were reared in similar environmental and feeding conditions and were divided into two groups:  G1 – fed with AgNPs-Beetroot (AgNPs-BR), orally (3 mg/kg/Bw), daily for 8 weeks; and G2, fed with normal saline. Rumen  samples were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after administering AgNPs-BR. Rumen pH was significantly lower in G1  than in G2. The ammonia levels were non-significantly different in the 2nd and the 4th week. However, significant differences  were observed at the 6th week. The VFAs, total bacterial, and protozoal count were significantly higher in G1. AgNPs-BR  improved rumen function by altering its pH, ammonia, and VFAs concentration, as well as the total bacteria and protozoa  count. Therefore, it can be concluded that AgNPs-BR may yield increased economic efficiency in sheep farming.

Keywords: beetroot, silver nanoparticles, lambs, rumen, ammonia, volatile fatty acid

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Copyright

© 2025  Dawood T.N. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential lict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 48, Issue 1, Pages 77-85, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: 10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0017

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.