Scienceline Publications Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research 2228-7701 6 2 2016 March MINERALS DISAPPEARANCE RATE OF LEAVES OF SOME ACACIA TREES AFTER DIGESTION IN GOATS’ RUMEN USING NYLON BAGS TECHNIQUE 38 44 http://www.ojafr.ir/main/attachments/article/120/Online%20J.%20Anim.%20Feed%20Res.,%206(2)%2038-44,%202016.pdf EN Nabaa Kamal AL SHAFEI Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bahri, Sudan Abdelfattah NOUR Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, USA The browse plants, including acacia species, provide excellent forage with high nutritive value for ruminants especially in dry areas of Africa. In this study, some minerals (P, K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu and Zn) were determined in leaves of browse plants (Acacia albida, Acacia nubica, Acacia sieberiana, Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus spina- christi) collected from different areas of Sudan before and after digestion of the sample in goat’s rumen by using nylon bag technique. Nylon bags containing the samples were inserted through the rumen fistula into the goat’s rumen, and were incubated for 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hrs. After incubation periods, it was found that there were a high loss of minerals and this is attributed to the rumen digestion and solubility of minerals in rumen liquor. The results indicate that the time of incubation and the type of mineral likely had a significant effect on the loss of minerals in the rumen. It can be observed from these figures that the disappearance rates (slope of the curves) vary across mineral types and species of acacia trees. Disappearance rates suggest that the rumen microorganisms have a significant role in the digestion of minerals and their disappearance rates are due to the solubility of minerals in the rumen liquor and the loss of minerals due to utilization of microorganisms to a certain amount for their maintenance. Acacia Trees Browse Plants Minerals Rumen Nylon Bag Technique Disappearance Rates