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This study was conducted to examine the effect of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seed (DPS) on the performance, ruminal fermentation, antioxidant status and milk fatty acid (FA) profile of dairy goats. Eight multiparous Saanen dairy goats, averaging 97 ± 7 days in milk (DIM) and 2150 ± 130 g of milk production, were used in a 4 × 4 replicated Latin square design. Experimental diets contained 0% (control), 6% (DPS6), 12% (DPS12) and 18% (DPS18) of DPS. Dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and the composition and digestibility of the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) were not affected by the diets. Adding DPS to the diet increased linearly total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in milk and blood (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in milk and blood. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the blood, ruminal pH, NH -N, ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, butyrate, isovalerate and valeric acid concentration had no significant effect among the diets. The propionate acid concentration decreased linearly as DPS was added to the diet, and DPS18 had minimum propionate acid concentration (p < 0.05). The inclusion of DPS18 to diets increased linearly the proportion of C18:0 (compared to control) as well as cis-18:1, trans-18:1 (compared to control and DPS6) and decreased C14:1 (compared to control) in milk fat (p < 0.05). The concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in DPS18 was higher than other diets (p = 0.04). The results of this study implied that replacing DPS with a part of dairy goats' ration had no negative effects on the performance of the animals and could also improve the antioxidant activity and increase the concentration of CLA in their milk.

SummaryThis experiment was carried out to examine the effect of grapeseed oil (GSO) on performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status and subcutaneous adipose fatty acid (FA) profile in lambs. Eighteen Baluchi lambs, 196 AE 14 days of age and 39.8 AE 1.7 kg body weight, were randomly assigned to three experimental diets: (i) diet without GSO (control), (ii) diet containing 2% of GSO (GSO2) and (iii) diet containing 4% of GSO (GSO4) for 42 days. Results showed that the experimental diets had no significant effect on dry matter intake and performance (p > 0.05). The supplemented diets with GSO had no effect on pH and NH 3 -N of rumen fluid (p > 0.05), but GSO4 increased (p = 0.003) the concentration of propionic acid and reduced (p = 0.002) the concentration of acetate acid compared to the control. Inclusion 4% of GSO to the diet increased total antioxidant activity and decreased malondialdehyde in serum and muscle (p < 0.001). The level of blood glutathione peroxidase in diets containing GSO was higher than control diet (p = 0.02), but diets had no effect on superoxide dismutase in blood and muscle tissues (p > 0.05). The concentration of vaccenic acid, rumenic acid and linoleic acid and thus polyunsaturated fatty acid in subcutaneous fat was affected by experimental diets (p < 0.001), as control had the lowest amount of these FAs and GSO4 had the highest amount of them. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of GSO up to 4% improves the antioxidant status and adipose fatty acid profile in lambs without effects on performance.

This experiment was carried out in order to characterise six varieties of wasted date palm (WDP). In particular, chemical composition, including mineral content, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of varieties were determined. Dry matter (DM) disappearance in samples was determined at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 h using the in situ method. The results of chemical composition showed that WDP varieties contained 3.23-6.27% Crude Protein (CP), 6.02-32.27% Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), 3.83-23.97% Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), and 54.98-88.38% Non-Fibrous Carbohydrate (NFC) (DM basis). Kharak variety had the highest NDF and as result had the lowest NFC compared to other varieties (p < .05). In addition, all varieties were good sources of minerals, especially potassium and calcium. The total phenolic compounds value was in the range of 2.96 to 9.43% where Koloteh variety had the lowest value and Kharak variety had the highest value. The Kharak variety had the highest flavonoids content and antioxidant activity compare to other varieties (p < .05). The result of degradability showed that rapidly degradable fraction (a) of dry matter was high in all varieties except in Kharak. The Estameran had the highest and Kharak had the lowest potentially degradability fraction (D). Thus, according to the results of this experiment, it can be concluded that WDP can be used as part of the diet of ruminants that helps to reduce the costs.