The supplementation with herbal and medicinal plants to animals showed positive effects on feed digestion, performance and animal’s health. Fifteen multiparous Egyptian buffaloes (537 ± 18.1 kg body weight), 7 days after parturition, were randomly assigned to 3 treatments in a quintupled 3 × 3 Latin square design in a 63-day experiment. Each experimental period lasted 21 days (15 days of adaptation + 7 days for measurements and sample collection). Buffaloes were assigned according to their previous milk production, weight and parity to study the effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) or ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation on feed utilization and lactational performance. Buffaloes were fed a basal diet of concentrates, berseem clover and rice straw in a ratio of 60:30:10 dry matter (DM) basis. The first group fed the basal diet with no additive as the control treatment, while other buffaloes were fed on the basal diet supplemented with 75 g fennel or ginger/buffalo daily. Additives supplementation did not affect feed intake; however, fennel followed by ginger improved (P<0.05) dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities compared to the control. Without affecting blood chemistry, fennel and ginger supplementation improved (P<0.05) production of milk and energy corrected milk, fat concentration and milk energy content and output. Fennel followed by ginger decreased the somatic cell count (P=0.035) compared with the control. Fennel and ginger improved feed efficiency (P<0.05) compared with the control. Fennel increased the proportion of milk trans-10, cis-12 C18:2 (P=0.028), total conjugated linoleic acid without affecting other fatty acids. It is concluded that fennel or ginger at 75 g/buffalo/d improved nutrient digestibility and milk production of lactating buffaloes. Fennel improved milk nutritive value than ginger.

The present study examines the impacts of supplementing yogurt with 1% whey protein concentrate (WPC), Ca-caseinate (Ca-CN) and Spirulina platensis on the physiological performance of V-line rabbits receiving diets containing yogurt (at a dose of 5 g/kg body weight/day) and the different meat quality aspects. The results show that fat content was highest (p < 0.05) in yogurt fortified with Spirulina powder, but protein (%) was highest in yogurt enriched with WPC. Yogurt containing Spirulina powder showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in total antioxidant activity. The final live body weight for G1 was higher than the other groups. However, additives affected the saddle, hind legs, liver and neck percentages significantly (p < 0.05). There were not significant differences for all groups in the forelegs, lung and heart percentages. LDL-cholesterol, total protein, globulin, albumin, creatinine and immunoglobulin M values were lowest (p < 0.05) in the WPC group. Significant improvements appeared in the small intestinal wall, microbiology, growth performance, serum biochemistry, organ histology and meat quality of the group receiving enriched yogurt. Yogurts enriched with WPC, Ca-CN and Spirulina platensis can be used as functional foods.

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The study aimed to identify the culling reasons of Holstein cows raised in a large commercial herd in Egypt with emphasis on the performance of retained and culled cows. A total of 31534 complete lactation records for 10994 cows calved from 2008 to 2019 were used. The overall rate of culling per lactation was 61.1%. Involuntary culling represented 92% of all culling cases. The reasons for culling included mastitis and udder problems (24.2%), reproductive disorders (18.7%), metabolic and digestive disorders (13.6%), lameness (13%), endemic diseases (10.8%), low milk yield (8.1%), respiratory diseases (4.3%) and unknown causes (7.3%). Means of 305-day milk yield and daily milk yield were significantly lower in culled cows than the retained ones. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed between culled and retained cows for days open and the number of services/conception. The high involuntary culling rate of Holstein under the Egyptian conditions revealed that management practices regarding mastitis prevention and reproductive efficiency should be improved.

The objective of the study was to classify and characterize the buffalo farming systems in the Delta region of Egypt using multivariate statistical analysis approach. A survey was conducted on 963 buffalo holders to classify and characterize dairy buffalo farming systems in the region of Delta Egypt. Data of 9665 heads of buffalo were used. Two multivariate statistical techniques, the principal component analysis (PCA) followed by the cluster analysis (CA) were applied to all the variables of the survey. A three different buffalo groups resulted; cluster 1(C1) :included 34% of the farms keeping 5132 heads of buffaloes. Itis characterized by large average for both farmland area (4.9 feddan) and buffalo herd size(15.6 heads). Production and reproduction performance of buffaloes was the best (milk yield, 2608kg; lactation period,258 days; and number of services/conception, 1.5). Cluster 2 (C2): included 35% of farms with1905 heads of buffaloes. It included the smallest average farmland area (3.1 feddan) and the fewest average buffalo herd size (5.6 heads).Cluster 3 (C3): included 31%of farms which kept 2628 heads of buffaloes. It was marked with intermediate values of farmland area, buffalo herd size and productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes that filled between those of C1 and 2.In all clusters, buffaloes were traditionally managed; hand milked and naturally bred. After taking their needs, farmers sell surplus raw milk and dairy products through informal markets. Efficient or regular milk marketing channels were completely absent. Access of veterinary and extension services was not sufficient and inefficient.