his study was investigated to determine the effect of zinc source either from organic or inorganic on lambs performance, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics. Fifteen local lambs (about six months old and an average body weight of 26.5± 3.1 kg) were divided into three similar groups (5 lambs each). The control group (G1) was fed the basal diet consisting of wheat straw and concentrates mixture. While, the other two tested groups were fed the same basal diet, supplemented with 20 mg Zn/head/day as Zinc Sulphate (G2) and 20 mg Zn/head/day as Zinc methionine (G3). All animals of these groups were fed 60% of their requirements as concentrate mixture and the rest of other requirements were covered from wheat straw, which was given ad libitum. The experiment was extended for 6 month. The results indicated that the average daily gain (ADG) was higher (P < 0.05) in zinc sulphate and zinc methionine groups than in control group (130 and 132 gm/day vs. 99 gm/day, respectively). There were no significant differences among groups in total feed intake. Feed conversion ratio as dry matter intake/ g gain was improved in zinc methionine and zinc sulphate groups when compared with control one.However, the differences among groups were not significant. Supplementation of Zn-meth increased (P<0.05) the level of zinc in serum as compared with control and zinc sulphate groups. Also, serum cholesterol was higher (p < 0.05) in Zn treated groups than in control one. While, serum concentration of total protein, Albumin, globulin, glucose, triglycerides and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were not affected by zinc supplementation. Zn supplementation in a form of organic or inorganic had no effect on dressing percentage and carcass cuts in lambs. In conclusion zinc supplementation in form of inorganic or organic may improve lambs performance.

he aim of this study was to evaluate some reproductive performance of male lambs, digestibility coefficients and feeding values of rations as affected by supplementation of different selenium (Se) sources. Twenty-four healthy Sohagi male lambs (7-8 month old and 24.47±0.15 kg body weight) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatment groups (6 animals each).The experiment was extended for 25-weeks after two weeks as adaptation period. Basal diet was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements according to the NRC (1985) except Se. Lambs in the first group were fed a basal diet as a control (T0) without supplement whereas lambs in groups T1, T2, and T3 were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1 mg/kg DM sodium selenite, vitamin E and selenium and selenized yeast (Se-yeast T3) , respectively. Three rams from each group (average body weight 44.21 ± 4.90 kg) of feeding trial were placed in metabolic cages for perform four digestibility coefficients trials to evaluate the digestibility and feeding values of the experimental rations. Five-day preliminary period was followed by a collection period of ten days with quantitative collection the feces. Blood samples from three animals in each group were collected before offering feed and water throughout the experimental period at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months of the experimental period . Results showed that ration supplemented with selenized yeast (T3) had a higher DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE digestibility coefficients than the other three treatments and the differences mostly were significant in most nutrients between T3 and each of T1 and control (T0) group. Generally, digestibility coefficients of DM were 66.66%, 68.94%, 70.31%, and 71.98% for control (T0), T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Also the values of TDN and DCP were behaved similar trend among dietary treatments as well as the digestion coefficients of all nutrients. The present results illustrated that testes weight recorded higher values in T3, T2, T1 compared to control group (T0), but the differences among treatments were not significant. In addition, the concentrations of selenium in testes were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3, followed by T2 and T1, while the lowest value was recorded in the control group (T0), with significant difference between each other. Also, results illustrated that values of testes circumference, testes volume and testosterone concentration at the beginning of experiment showed no significant differences among treatments, while at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months of experimental period T3 group recorded higher (p<0.01) or values of three mentioned testes parameters compared with T2, T1 and control (T0) treatments. Generally, T3 and T2 recorded higher and significantly values in comparison with T1 and control group (T0). Also, data showed that both diameter of testes and plasma testosterone concentration increased with advancing of age. In addition, values of plasma thyroid hormones concentrations recorded significantly(p<0.01) higher values as a results of supplementation of different s...

No abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of onion, garlic, fenugreek seeds as feed additives on feed intake, some blood plasma constituents and ruminal fermentation of ossimi ewes. Twenty pregnant ossimi ewes on day 90 ±7 of pregnancy, were randomly divided into four similar groups (5 animals each). Control group (T1) was fed the basal diet which consisted of 60 % concentrate feed mixture (44% yellow corn, 20% soybean meal, 20% wheat bran, 13% undecorticated cottonseeds meal, 2% lime stone and 1% salt) and 40 % roughages (20% wheat straw and 20% chopped alfalfa hay). While, the other three treatment groups were fed the same basal diet, supplemented with either 3% onion powder (T2), 3% garlic powder (T3) or 3% fenugreek seeds powder (T4) the rations (concentrate + roughages) were fed ad lipitum. Feed intake was recorded daily. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from all animals before morning feeding. Rumen samples were collected from all ewes using a stomach tube to determine ruminal pH values, ammonia-N concentration and total VFA s concentration. Feed intake increased (P˂0.05) during the late pregnancy of ewes fed onion, garlic and fenugreek seeds. While, after parturition feed intake was not significantly differ among groups except for that of onion and garlic groups at the first month of lactation, which was significantly (P<0.05) increased as compared with control. Plasma total protein and albumin levels increased (P˂0.05) in treated groups as compared with control, while there were no significant differences in plasma globulin, albumin: globulin ratio, triglycerides and glucose between treated groups and control one. Plasma cholesterol concentration decreased (P˂0.05) in ewes fed garlic as compared with those fed control, onion and fenugreek diets. Also, plasma cholesterol concentration of ewes fed onion decreased (P˂0.05) as compared with fed control and fenugreek diets. There were no significant differences among groups in rumen pH values at zero h of feeding or 6 hrs after feeding. Ruminal ammonia-N concentration decreased (P<0.05) in all treated groups as compared with control. Also, total volatile fatty acids concentration in rumen liquor increased (P<0.05) in all treated groups as compared with control one. In conclusion onion, garlic or fenugreek seeds as feed additives may have a beneficial effect on feed intake, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation of ossimi ewes.

The trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary urea level on serum urea, glucose and amino acids concentrations. Eighteen clinically healthy ewes were previously adapted to urea feeding (initial body weight 33.81 kg and about 4 years age). Animals were randomly assigned to three groups; the control group was given basal diet which met energy and protein requirements for body weight maintenance and the other two groups were fed on basal diet with 1% and 1.5% urea on dry matter (DM) basis to replace part of the dietary crude protein. The duration of this study was lasted for 3.5 months. Animals were kept in individual pens. The estrous cycles were synchronized using two injections of prostaglandin (PGF 2α ). Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment as well as at the first and second injection with PGF 2α and then just before slaughter. Three animals were slaughtered at follicular phase and the remaining three animals were at luteal phase in each group. The follicular and luteal phases were monitored 40 hrs and 10 days upon second injection with PGF 2α . Serum glucose and urea concentrations were determined using spectrophotometer. Essential and non essential amino acids were determined using HPLC method in blood plasma collected at follicular and luteal phases. The results indicated that serum urea levels in treated groups were significantly higher than those in the control one (P<0.05), and vice versa with serum glucose concentrations. There were no significant differences in plasma essential and non essential amino acids during follicular and luteal phases among the three groups. It could be concluded that dietary 1% and 1.5% urea level changes serum concentrations of urea and glucose but did not affect plasma amino acids.