Twenty-four crossbred ram lambs (1/2 Finnish Landrace ×1/2 Rahmani) aged 3-4 months and averaged 22.25±0.93 kg live body weight were randomly divided into three treatments (8 lambs in each) according to their live body weight. The experimental period lasted 6 months from May to October 2015. Ram lambs were orally treated with 0 (control), 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) mg rocket oil (RO)/kg LBW. Growth performance, puberty and semen characteristics of ram lambs, some blood parameters and economic efficiency were estimated. The results showed that final LBW of ram lambs at puberty increased (P<0.05) in T2 and T1 as compared to control. Total weight gain increase (P<0.05) in T2 compared with control (18.22 vs.16.62 kg). Average daily gain was higher (P<0.05) in T2 than in T1 and control (161.2 vs. 125.6 and 112.3 g/d). Ram lambs of T2 expressed first ejaculate (puberty) 34.6 days earlier (P<0.05) than those in control. Scrotal circumference and testes volume increased (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 compared with in control. Semen quality (ejaculate volume, initial motility, live spermatozoa, sperm cell concentration and sperm output) was better (P<0.05) in T2 and T1 than in control. Serum total antioxidant capacity was higher (P<0.05) in T2 than in control and T1. Relative economic feed efficiency increased for T1 and T2 lambs (111 and 137%) compared with controls. It could be conclude that daily addition of 2 mg rocket oil (watercress oil)/kg live body weight of ram lambs could lead to earlier age at puberty, improvement in growth performance at puberty, higher reproductive ability and better economic feed efficiency of ram lambs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of, replacing corn grains in concentrate feed mixture (CFM) with mango seeds (MS) in Damascus goat buck's diets, on productive and reproductive characteristics at prepubertal stage (weaning-prepuberty). Corn grains in CFM were replaced with mango seeds at levels of 0% MS (G1, control), 15% (G2) and 30% (G3). Results revealed that G3 showed the highest (P<0.05) LBW and average daily gain (ADG). Feed conversion ratio, all nutrients digestibility, feeding values, and economic feed efficiency were improved (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 compared with G1. Animals in G2 and G3 showed earlier (P<0.05) ages to produce the 1 st ejaculation than control. Testosterone concentration one-month prepuberty increased (P<0.05) in G2 compared with G1 and G3. Testicular measurements and scrotal circumference in G2 as well as only testicular length in G3 increased (P<0.05) in comparing with G1. Mediastinum width increased in G2, decreased in G3 compared with G1 (P<0.05). Tunica albuginea was thicker (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1. Scrotal septum was wider (P<0.05) in G3 than in G2. Prostate and vascular gland were longer (P<0.05) and wider in G2 and G3 than in G1. This study concluded that replacement of corn grains with mango seeds at level of 30% in diets of Damascus goat bucks has a positive effect on productive performance. The replacement at a level of 15% MS improved reproductive characterization of bucks raised for semen production for breeding programs.

Thirty-six Zaraibi doe goats of 3-5 years old and average live body weight (LBW) of 28.14±0.93kg were randomly distributed into three groups (12 doe goats in each) according to their LBW and reproductive status. The experimental period of does lasted for 12 months and buck treatment started two months before breeding season in September. Mating was carried out using twelve sexually mature fertile and tested bucks of 41.25±2.1 kg LBW and aged 24 months were divided into three groups receiving the same treatments of doe goats.Rocket oil (watercress oil) was received daily oral does at levels of 0, 1 and 2 mg/kg LBW for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. The results showed that the bucks in G3 showed the highest (P<0.05) scrotal circumferences (30.25 cm), followed by G2 (29.25 cm) and G1 (27.75 cm) at the end of experiment. Bucks in G3 showed the lowest (P<0.05) reaction time and abnormal sperm percentage and the highest (P<0.05) ejaculate volume, and percentages of sperm motility, and live sperm, as well as sperm concentration and total sperm output compared with G2 and G1. Fertility rate was 90, 100 and 100% for mated does and 75, 91.66 and 91.66% for all treated does in G1, G2 and G3, respectively (P<0.05). Litter size and sex ratio were the highest (P<0.05) in G3 and G2 compared with G1, while mortality rate was the lowest (P<0.05) in G3 (6.26%), followed by G2 (11.11%) and G1 (15.38%). Weaning weight, total gain and average daily gain of born kids were higher (P<0.05) in G3 than in G2 and G1. Average daily milk yield was higher (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1, being 1318 and 1426 vs. 1162 g, respectively. Percentage and yield of milk constituents were higher (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1. Only, concentration of serum albumin increased (P<0.05) with rocket oil additive as compared to G1, while the other blood parameters were insignificantly different among the experimental groups. Does in G3 showed the highest economic feed efficiency for milk production as compared to those in G2 and G1.

The evaluation of the effect of partial replacing protein of sun flower meal (SFM) by protein of azolla meal in concentrate feed mixture (CFM) on growth performance, digestibility, feed intake and conversion and economic feed efficiency of growing lambs it was the aim of the present study. 15male crossbred (Osimi X Flelandi) were divided into 3 equal groups T1, T2 and T3 fed on CFM containing 0, 10 and 20% azolla meal replacing 0,25 and 50%protein of SFM respectively. Results showed that, integrated azolla meal with experimental rations resulted in decreasing the digestibility of DM,OM,CP and NFE and feeding value as TDN and DCP with R2 and R3 rations compared to those of R1 which had highest means (65.61,72.08, 69.69, 77.45,69.81and 8.37,respectively). While, digestion coefficients of CF and EE increased with integrated azolla in rations with highest value in R3.T1 recorded the highest average of final body weight (40 kg) and T3 recorded the lowest average (38.4kg) with insignificant differences among tested groups. Also total body weight gain and average daily gain decreased from T1 up to T3 with insignificant differences among experimental groups. Economic feed efficiency(%) recorded the best value(2.28%) in T2 which had 10% azolla meal followed by T3 which had 20% azolla meal and the lower value (2.15) in T1. The results concluded that dietary insert of azolla meal up to level 10% instead of SFM had positive impact on economic feed efficiency of growing crossbred lambs without any adverse effect on the performance of the animals.

A total of 30 Zaraibi lactating goat does (42.460.86 kg LBW and 4-5 years of age) were used in this study to investigate the effect of partially replacing concentrate feed mixture (CFM) containing cotton seed cake in the diet by two levels of sunflower seeds (SFS), being 15 % (G2) and 20 % (G3) on chemical composition, digestibility coefficients, rumen liquor parameters and live body weight of Zaraibi goats. At the last month of pregnancy, goat does were divided into three similar groups (10 in each). Goat does in the 1 st group (G1, control) were fed a basal ration containing 25% CFM and 75% fresh berseem (FB) during winter feeding or 50% CFM and 50% berseem hay (BH) during summer feeding. During an experimental period from 30 d pre-partum up to the next mating season, does in all groups were biweekly weighed. Two digestibility trials were conducted during the suckling period (winter feeding) and mid of the lactation period (summer feeding). Results revealed that contents of EE and OM % were higher, while contents of DM, CP and ash were lower in SFS treatment groups than in control group. However, contents of CF and NFE % were nearly similar in SFS and CFM treatment groups. ًWinter feeding was characterized by higher CP (about 15 vs. 13%) and lower CF (about 12 vs. 16%) than summer feeding. By increasing level of SFS from 15 to 20 %, only digestibility coefficients (DCs) of DM, OM and EE increased (P<0.05) during winter feeding; however, DCs of all nutrients, except of CP, increased (P<0.05) during summer feeding. During the winter and summer feeding, nutritive value of experimental rations as TDN increased (P<0.05) by increasing level of SFS, while nutritive values as TDN or DCP was higher (P<0.05) for both SFS levels, being the highest for 20 % SFS diet. Inclusion of both SFS-levels during winter feeding increased (P<0.05) pH value and decreased concentration of VFAs, but did not affect ammonia concentration in ruminal liquor (RL). Only 20 % SFS diet decreased (P<0.05) pH value and increased concentration of VFAs and ammonia in RL sampled before or post-feeding during summer feeding. The differences in live body weight of does among the experimental groups and within each group were not significant (P≥0.05) at different experimental periods. It could be concluded that replacing 20% of CFM by sunflower seed has beneficial effects on digestibility coefficient and nutritive values without marked change in rumen liquor parameters and goat performance.