This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 10 weeks supplementation of Quebracho tannins (QT; 0 [control], 100 [QT 100 ] or 200 g/[cow·d] [QT 200 ]) to 30 multiparous postpartum buffalo cows (10 cows per group) on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites and reproductive performance. Supplementation of QT 100 had no significant effect on milk yield, whereas QT 200 decreased ( P < 0.05) this trait. Compared with the control group, both QT levels decreased ( P < 0.05) fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield, but no significant effects were found on percentages of milk fat and protein. Contrariwise, yields of milk fat, lactose and milk protein were decreased ( P < 0.05) when QT 200 was supplemented. The solids nonfat (SNF) percentage and yield were decreased ( P < 0.05) with QT 100 supplementation. Moreover, QT tended to numerically reduce total number of ovarian follicles, number of small follicles, peripheral progesterone concentration and conception rate. Supplementation of QT 200 numerically increased number of large follicles, mean diameter of large follicle, number and diameters of corpora lutea. The inclusion of QT 200 shortened days open (DO) and decreased number of services per conception. Contrariwise, QT did not show significant effects on serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Supplementation of QT 100 caused an increase ( P < 0.05) of serum urea compared with that in control and QT200 groups. Generally, QT decreased ( P < 0.05) serum creatinine concentration. Therefore, the supplementation of a commercial QT to early lactating Egyptian buffalo cows displayed negative consequences on their productive and reproductive performances.

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Aflatoxin B 1 is the most potent hepatocarcinogen known in animals and it is classified by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group I carcinogen meaning that it is a proven cancer-inducing agent. It also occurs in the environment contaminating a lot of different food and feed commodities. The aim of this study was to assess the possible effect of gamma irradiation on the reduction of aflatoxin B 1 in some cereal grains and the impact on nutritive values including, ash, &moisture. It was found that maize samples contain the highest level of aflatoxin B 1 than wheat and rice. Gamma irradiation is a suitable technique which reduces the levels of aflatoxin B 1 in cereal samples without affecting the nutritive values, at 4 KGy the reduction percents of aflatoxin B 1 were 15.54%, 22.25%, and 27.46% for maize, wheat, and rice respectively whereas at 6 KGy the reduction percents of aflatoxin B 1 were 32.39%, 43.84%, and 56.38% respectively and the 8 KGy radiation dose remove about 60.26% of the toxin in maize, 64.68% in rice and 69.29% in wheat samples. Higher radiation doses than 8 KGy are required to remove the toxin until it reaches the legal limit (5ppb) according to FAO.

Exploring new alternative sources of feedstuffs can contribute to animal production sustainability in some Mediterranean regions in order to overcome the rising food demand. The influence of dietary replacement of wheat straw (WS) with orange waste silage (OWS) on nutrient intakes, apparent digestibility, ruminal fermentation and blood biochemical constituents and milk production of dairy goats were evaluated. Forty pregnant goats (46.30±1.6 kg BW) were housed in individual pens in a completely randomized design and fed (ad libitum) a TMR for 75 days period. Goats were assigned to four experimental diets with the forage amounts consisting of either WS as a control diet (1000 g WS/kg DM in the TMR), a 50:50 mixture of both WS and OWS (500 g WS and 500 g OWS/kg DM in the TMR), an orange waste silage (1000 g OWS/kg DM in the TMR) or corn silage as a positive control (1000 g CS/kg DM in the TMR). The DMI increased linearly (P < 0.01), while fiber fractions intake decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing of OWS in the diet. Ruminal pH was increased quadratically (P < 0.01), whereas NH3-N concentration and total protozoa abundance decreased quadratically (P < 0.01) with increasing OWS in the diet. Ruminal acetate content was increased linearly (P = 0.012) by diet; whereas linear effects were observed on propionate and butyrate proportions (P < 0.01) as OWS amount increased. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) and β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) levels decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with ascending amounts of OWS. Serum glucose, BUN, NEFA and BHBA levels were lower (P < 0.01) for goats fed the OWS diet than those fed the CS diet. Milk yield and milk nitrogen efficiency were linearly increased (P < 0.01), whereas quadratic effects (P = 0.049) were observed on milk urea nitrogen content with increasing dietary OWS. In conclusion, the replacement of WS with OWS enhanced rumen fermentation and milk yield of late pregnant and early lactation Barki goats.

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