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The present study was designed to investigate the effects of royal jelly (RJ) or/ and bee honey (H) on age of sexual puberty, semen quality and fertility of male New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Eighty pre-pubertal male NZW rabbits and 80 hybrid nonparous female rabbits were used in the present study. Male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (20 bucks per group), bucks were administered orally with 0.5 mL of a solution/ kg body weight (BW), 3 times weekly for 6 weeks; which contained: 1) water for control (1 st group), 2) 0.25 mL bee honey + 0.25 mL water (2 nd group), 3) 200 mg royal jelly + 0.5 mL water (3 rd group) and 200 mg royal jelly + 0.25 mL honey + 0.25 mL water (4 th group). The results of the present study showed that pre-pubertal NZW rabbits received RJ or/ H and showed significantly earlier (P<0.05) puberty age (earlier ages at testis descending into scrotum, separation of penis from sheath, beginning of fighting, first ejaculated sperm, appearance of sperm in testis and epididymis); decrease (P<0.05) of reaction time, increase of ejaculate volume, percentage of sperm progressive motility, sperm-cell concentration and seminal plasma fructose concentration compared to control group. On the other hand, percentages of dead and abnormal spermatozoa increased significantly (P<0.05) for control group compared to the other three groups. Blood plasma concentrations of testosterone and cholesterol increased significantly (P<0.05) for royal jelly or/ and bee honey groups compared with control. Otherwise, plasma activities of aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) differed non-significantly among groups. Rabbit bucks treated with royal jelly or/ and bee honey showed better fertility (higher conception rate and litter size) than control bucks. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that oral administration of royal jelly or/ and bee honey at any level could be used beneficially to have earlier puberty age, improve semen quality and fertility of male NZW rabbits. This improvement was also mirrored on better liver functions as observed with normal concentrations of AST and ALT.

he objective of the current work was to study the effect of adding different level of allzyme SSF to olive cake based diet of sheep on the intake, digestibility and nutritive value. Twenty four Barki rams (average 40.0 ± 2.11 kg live body weight) at 2-3 years old were used in the experiment. Animals were randomly allocated to four groups (6 animal/group) in separate pens and offered the experimental diets. All animals were fed concentrate feed mixture (CFM) consists of 90 % olive cake, 7% molasses, 1% sodium chloride, 1.5 % Limestone, 0.5 % mineral. During this trial the experimental diets were offered at (85% CFM and 15% Barseem hay) .in which olive cake were treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of the allzyme SSF in the diet, respectively, for D2, D3, and D4 groups in comparison with the control (D1, without enzyme addition). The results indicated that treating olive cake with allzyme SSF decreased its fiber content. Animals in D3 and D4 groups contained relatively similar content of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), fiber fractions and condensed tannins. The results indicated that palatability of olive cake was improved with allzyme SSF addition. The apparent digestibility of all nutrients were higher in D3 and D4 than that in D2 and the control group (D1). The highest TDN and DCP intakes were reported for sheep in D3 and D4 followed by D2 and then D1. Results showed that TDN and DCP values were increased with increasing the level of enzyme in the diets. The concentration of ruminal pH was decreased , while that of ammonia and volatile fatty acids were increased gradually from zero to 4 hours post feeding. No significant differences were found in serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations among sheep in the four treated groups. Blood concentrations of creatinine, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxalacetic (GOT) were not affected significantly by Allzyme SSF addition. It could be concluded that using Allyzme SSF supplementation at levels 1.0 and 1.5% in sheep diets tended to improve the digestibility and the nutritive values of sheep diet.

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he present study aimed to determine the effects of using different level of prickly pear peels byproduct as an unconventional ingredient in the different of rabbits on productive performance, digestibility, some blood constituents, immune response, activity of certain digestive enzymes in pancreatic tissue and intestinal contents and economic of efficiency. Sixty weaned New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) male rabbits aged 35 days and weighed 600g ± 2.20 were equally and randomly divided into four groups (15 in each one). The experimental diets contained different levels of dried prickly pear peels (PPP) (0.0 control (C), 10, 20 and 30%), respectively. Results indicated that: The final live body weight, total weight gain and performance index were significantly (P<0.05) affected by PPP groups. The highest (P<0.05) values of live body weight, total weight gain and performance index were recorded by rabbits fed 30% PPP inclusion (2178g, 1577g and 74.59%) followed by received inclusion level of 20% PPP (2080g, 1482g and 66.45%), respectively compared with the 10% PPP (2000g, 1398g and 58.82%) or control (1990g, 1390g and 56.37%), respectively. Feed intake (g/ day), protein intake, and digestible energy intake were significantly (P≤0.05) decreased with increasing PPP levels. Rabbits fed PPP (30%) diet recorded a significant best FCR value followed by those of 20 and 10 % tested material, respectively. Digestibility coefficient and nutritive values (DM, CP, EE, CF, TDN, DCP and DE) were significantly improved for rabbits fed diet contained PPP compared to those fed the control diet. There were significant increases detected for plasma total protein, albumin and globulin while blood plasma of total lipids was significantly decreased by increasing PPP inclusion level compared to control groups. Liver function as AST and ALT activity were not affected by dietary treatments with supplementing PPP. Values of each of blood components including (red and white blood cells count) and hemoglobin were increased in rabbits fed diet contained PPP than those of the control, Also there is a significant increase in the activity of intestinal amylase, lipase and protease in rabbits compared to controls. Moreover the concentrations of IgG and IgM of rabbits were higher for rabbit supplemented with PPP than the control group. The best economical efficiency and relative economical efficiency values had been recorded with rabbits fed 30% PPP inclusion followed by rabbits received 20% and 10% treatment of PPP, respectively. It is concluded that supplemental dried prickly pear peels (PPP) at the rate of 30 or 20 % of the diet improved growth performance and health status of the NZW rabbits.

he present study was to investigate the effect of feeding biologically treated jojoba meal(TJM) by Asperigullis oryzae (Fk-923) on digestibility coefficient, nutritive value, blood metabolic, and rumen characteristic of sheep. Twenty Barki male sheep were used in a randomized complete blocks designed (four groups of five sheep each) average body weight 36.42 +2.05 kg and aged 4-5 years old. The experiment aimed to study the feed evaluation of sheep feed on treated jojoba meal. The experimental concentrate rations were as follow:R1: Control treatment (yellow corn (40%), wheat bran (20%), cotton seed meal (30%), molasses (6%), salt (1.5%), limestone (2%), and (0.5%) mineral premix, R2: Yellow corn (40%), wheat bran (20%), cotton seed meal (20%), jojoba meal (10%), molasses (6%), salt (1.5%), limestone (2%) and (0.5%) mineral premix, R3: Yellow corn (40%), wheat bran (20%), cotton seed meal (10%), jojoba meal (20%), molasses (6%), salt (1.5%), limestone (2%) and (0.5%) mineral premix and R4: Yellow corn (40%), wheat bran (20%), jojoba meal (30%), molasses (6%), salt (1.5%), limestone (2%) and (0.5%) mineral premix. The results indicated that the high crude protein content in jojoba meal with fungus was associated with lower crud fiber content. It is noted that the treated jojoba recorded an improvement in CP, CF. higher than the untreated jojoba meal. Jojoba meal with fungus decreased the simmondsin contents from 5% in untreated jojoba meal to 0.17% JM treated. Chemical analyses of CP and EE in the R4 were found to be higher than those of R3, R2 and R1, while crude fiber, NDF, ADF contents recorded lower values in R4 than other rations. Results of digestibility trail showed that animals fed R1 and R3 recorded higher (P<0.05) DM, CP, OM, EE, NDF and ADF digestibility compared to other diets. The TDN g/kg BW and TDN % were higher in R3 compared to the ether diets. The DCP as g/h//d and DCP% of R1, R3 and R4 were significantly (p<0.05) higher than R2. The higher NI, FN and total excretion were recorded by R4 compared to other diets. Ruminal PH higher value was recorded in zero time and tended to decrease at 3hrs and 6hrs after feeding .Rumen ammonia-N concentration was increased at 3hrs and decrease at 6hrs after feeding. the Jojoba ration showed higher (P<0.01) TVFA , s production 3hrs after feeding ,but lower (P<0.01) at 6hrs after feeding in R2 and R3 verses R1 and R4. Starting from 2hrs to 24hrs of incubation the R3and R4 combinations showed higher gas produced volume than R2 and control. The highest potential gas production soluble (a) and insoluble (b) for treated Jojoba meal with fungi. Total protein, albumin and globulin were non-significantly increased (P>0.05) in lambs fed R4 ration than in those fed R3, R1 and R2. The activity of ALT and AST enzyme was significantly. Serum T3 and T4 levels showed numerical significant (P<0.05) increase for T4 in group fed R1 as compared with the other group. feeding sheep on R 3 and R 4 reduced the cost of one Kg DCP compared with lambs fed on R 2 and control ration. This 20...

ecently, some plants essential oils (EO) are used as natural feed additives for ruminants because their major bioactive compounds have antimicrobial properties that can be effective against undesirable rumen microbes. In addition, EO have not an adverse effect either on animal or human health and environment. This work was carried out to evaluate the effect of natural additives as essential oils addition on animal performance, feed intake, apparent digestibility, carcass characteristics, chemical composition and fatty acids profile of longissimus lumborum muscle of Barki lambs. Twenty weaned male Barki lambs ( 19.72 ± 2.09) kg BW, 3 months old were randomly assigned in one of four diet groups, 5 animals each , were received the same basal diet,(50% berseem hay, BH, and 50% concentrate feed mixture). All experimental animals were kept in individual pens for 195 days for fattening trial and 15 days for digestibility trial. At the end of the experiment all lambs were slaughtered for carcass characteristics evaluation and meat fatty acids (FAs) profile determination. The control lambs were fed their basal diet without EO supply. The other three groups were orally given, by syringe, one of the three tested EO before morning feeding as follow: the basal diet plus 2 ml/day/lamb of anise EO (Anise group), 2 ml/day /lamb clove EO (Clove group) or 2 ml/day/lamb thyme EO (Thyme group). According to the results, the experimental EO had no significant effects on nutrients intake, lamb's performance (final body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio) (P> 0.05). Clove EO improved dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility (P<0.05) and nitrogen balance% of intake (P<0.05). Ruminal parameters showed higher ruminal ammonia with thyme EO supply (P<0.05). Most of carcass characteristics were not affected by EO addition but lambs of clove group showed a significant increase in weight of feet (P<0.05), full (P<0.01) and empty (P<0.05) digestive tract, tail fat (P<0.01) and liver (P<0.05) compared with control lambs. Some blood plasma metabolites were affected by EO where plasma createnine and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were increased (P <0.05) in thyme group however, total lipids and cholesterol increased in clove group. Fatty acids content of longissimus lumborum muscle was slightly affected by addition of EO where palmitoleic (C16:1n-7) was increased and arachidonic acids (C20:4n-6) was decreased (P<0.05) in meat of lambs fed clove. Also, clove inclusion in lambs diet increased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) deposition in their meat (P<0.05). Overall, addition of anise, clove or thyme EO to lambs' diets may not have the potential to improve animal growth performance, blood metabolites and meat chemical composition. Clove EO has a considerable positive effect on nutrients digestibility and improve carcass characteristics, meat FA profile. Further research are needed with higher concentrations of EO for longer duration of supply.

The study was carried out in Animal Production Research Unit in the Sustainable Development Center for Matrouh Resources (SDCMR), Matrouh Governorate, belonging to Desert Research Center, El-Matarya, Cairo, Egypt. The main problem of utilizing Jojoba meal as a feed source is the presence of simmondsin as a major toxic compound with other anti -nutritional factors. The main objective of the present study was to assess the influence of replacing (70%) of undecorticated cotton seed meal (CSM) of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) with Jojoba meal (JM) (Simmondsia chinensis), either as untreated JM (UJM) (R2) or treated biologically with lactic acid bacteria (JMB) (R3) or treated chemically with 70% isopropanol (JMI) (R4) on the concentration of anti -nutritional factors ANFʼs ( mainly simmondsin), dry matter intake (DMI), daily gain, digestion coefficients, rumen fermentation, some of blood biochemical parameters and consequently animal performance. Control group (R1) fed on traditional CFM. Twenty four Barki lambs weighed 24 kg 6 months old were used in this experiment. Obtained Results indicated that both treatments (biologically or chemically) showed a positive effect in reducing ANFʼs while chemical composition of all the experimental rations had comparable values. Detoxified JM with bacteria or with isopropanol showed the highest feed intake as dry matter, crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digested crude protein (DCP) with significant differences . Consequently, the average daily gain (ADG) g/h was descendingly arranged as follow : lambs fed on (R4), followed by those fed on (R3), control lambs (R1) then those fed on (R2).The values of DM,TDN and DCP intake /kg gain indicated that lambs fed JMI were the highest , followed by R1 fed lambs then JMB fed lambs, while the least values for lambs fed on UJM. Rumen parameters as pH, ammonia -Nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and volatile fatty acids (VFAʼs) concentrations were affected with treatments. No significant differences were detected in serum metabolites, except that for liver enzymes (AST and ALT). Since both treatments showed elevated activities in all JM fed animals, compared with control one. Generally, the endocrine function tests (T 3 and T 4 ) showed a significant elevations in lambs fed JM rations either treated or untreated. It could be concluded that, chemical or biological treatments of Jojoba meal with isopropanol or with lactic acid bacteria could offer a good solution for the reduction or elimination of toxic and bitter simmondsin and some of phenolics from Jojoba meal and could be used in animal nutrition without negative effects on animal performance.