The present study aimed at investigating the effect of high level of feeding and antibiotic growth promoters (flavomycin and monensin) on the wool follicle activities and fibre growth in sheep. Sixty Barki ewe lambs at 4.5 months of age and 20.6 kg body weight were randomly taken from the main flock of Mariout Experimental Station of the Desert Research Center and divided into six equal groups. Five groups were offered a basal diet covering the requirements for growth rate of 100 gm/day. Of these five groups the 1 st was the control, the 2 nd and the 3 rd were supplemented with flavomycin at the rate of 20 and 40 mg/head/day, respectively. The 4 th and the 5 th groups were offered monensin at the rate of 10 and 20 mg/head/day, respectively. The sixth one was given a high level of feeding to cover a growth rate of 150 gm/day. Treatments continued for eight months. Wool follicle activity and fibre growth were measured using histological and histochemical sections from the skin of the yearling ewes sampled at 12.5 month of age.The treated animals did not show any difference in their first fleece weight. High level of nutrition significantly (p0.05) increased the dimensions of both primary and secondary wool follicles. The histochemical analysis showed that the high level of feeding increased carbohydrate concentration, protein content and activity of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme indicating high activity of follicles. In addition, the same treatment led to an increase (p0.05) in the diameter of both primary and secondary fibres.Neither wool follicles nor fibres were affected by the administration of both flavomycin 40 mg/head/day and monensin 10 mg/head/day. However, the level of 20 mg/head/day of both two types of growth promoters showed a considrable improvement in the traits under study towards more follicles activity and wool growth. It was concluded that using high level of nutrition or administrating flavomycin or monensin at the rate of 20 mg/head/day would improve wool follicle characteristics in yearling Barki ewes towards increasing their activities.
he influence of halophytic diets with or without inclusion with protected fats was studied on the hair follicle dimensions and activity in the skin of Shami goats. Fortytwo adult Shami goats were divided into three groups (14 each) fed on diets with a ratio of 40% concentrate and 60% roughage and drink fresh water twice daily. The roughage in the first group, which representing the control was berseem hay, while in the other two groups were a mixture of 50% Atriplex halimus and Nummularia and 50% pearl millet with presence or absence of protected fats. Skin samples were taken to determine the hair follicle characteristics and activities. Results obtained indicated that feeding trails have small or no significant effects on the hair follicle dimensions or activities between tested and control groups and consequently elevated the negative effects of poor quality fibrous feed on follicle hair production and activity. A slight increase was found in the diameters of fibers from the secondary follicles in contrast with those of primary follicles, which showed a reversible trend. Meanwhile, the medulla thickness of the fibers produced from the primary follicles showed no significant changes corresponding to different feed trails. The histochemical evaluation revealed that significant differences in carbohydrate and protein contents of both primary and secondary follicle sheaths were found between the different treatment groups. The highest values of both carbohydrate and protein contents were recorded in the group which have protected fat in their diet. Animals fed on halophytes supplemented with protected fat were associated with higher sebaceous gland cell and nucleus diameters of both primary and secondary follicles. In an overall of conclusion, from the stand point of the skin follicle activity and hair production, the mixture of Atriplex halimus, Nummularia and pearl millet supplemented with protected fat could T
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