Effect of Propolis as a Feed Additive on Nutritional and Productive Performance of Pregnant Ewes and their Lambs under Halaib-Shalateen Pastures Condition

Abstract

Thirty, 3-4 year of age, female Abu-duleik sheep, local breed, in late pregnancy period were chosen to study the effect of feeding two levels from propolis(P)during late pregnancy and postpartum period on nutritional and productive performance. Animals were divided into three equal groups(10 ewes in each).The first group was fed on concentrate feed mixture(CFM)without propolis (P0) as a control ration, while, the second(P1)and third(P2)groups received the control ration supplemented with propolis at the levels of 100 and 200 mg /kg DM, respectively.All animals were fed CFM at 2.5% of live body weight(LBW)and allowed to graze on Panicum turgidum as a basal range plant for 8 hours daily. The results could be summarized as follows:Propolis treatments led to significant increases in all nutrients digestibility.Propolis improved ruminal condition represented by a decrease(P<0.05)in pH, ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids concentrations. Propolis treatments showed lower(P<0.05)total bacteria count(X 10 10 /ml),especially ruminal gram positive bacteria, compared with control treatment.Also, 4% fat correct milk yield and percentage of constituents (fat, protein and total solid) increase(P<0.05)with increasing the level of propolis. Lambs belonging to the P1 and P2 groups recorded a significant increase in the average daily gain, total gain and weaning weight compared to lambs belonging to the control group. Propolis treatments improved ewe's production index represented by weaning weight index percentage at a rate of22.60 and 33.53%for P1 and P2 ewes compared with control ewes. Generally,propolis additive under arid-area rangelands condition improved nutritional and productive performance of pregnant ewes and their lambs beside improved economic efficiency