The objective of this study was to determine the effects of tannins in pistachio by-product (PB) on ammonia concentrations in rumen, abomasum and blood metabolites in Iranian Balochi sheep. Three rams with ruminal cannulas and T cannulas in the abomasums were used in a 3 × 3 change over design experiment. Rams were maintained in individual metabolism crates (1.3 m × 0.5 m) which access to water at all times. Treatments were including 3 levels of PB (T1 = 0, T2 = 20 and T3 = 40% of DM). Urea was continuously infused into the rumen via peristaltic pump (1 mL/ min). Daily intake was determined. Abomasum samples were taken simultaneously from all rams twice daily during a period of 4 successive days as follows: d 1, 0900 and 1500 h; d 2, 1000 and 1600 h; d 3, 1100 and 1700 h and d 4, 1200 and 2000 h. Ruminal samples were obtained from each ram on d 3 of the 5-d collection period before the morning meal and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h after feeding. Blood samples were collected from each rams at the end of experiment via jugular vein 2 h after morning feeding. Dry matter intake (DMI) decreased for sheep fed PB (0.75, 0.74 and 0.64 kg, respectively). This reduction was significant for T3 and no differences were observed between T1 and T2. The addition of PB in the diet reduced ammonia concentration in the rumen. In contrast, ammonia concentration in the abomasum increased (25.01, 26.09 and 31.90 mg/dL, respectively). Treatment effects on blood urea nitrogen (BUN) did not differ (P > 0.05), but tended to be greater for sheep fed the PB (14.66, 16.33 and 17.66 mg/dl, respectively). Blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol decreased for sheep fed T3 compared with control (57 vs. 64; 8 vs. 13 and 26 vs. 40 mg/dL, respectively) It was concluded that feeding PB at high levels (40% of DM) led to decreased DMI, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride compared with control, but the addition of 20% had no affect.

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