Aim:The aim of the study was to assess the effect of two levels of wasted date (WD) by replacing commercial concentrate on the reproductive performance of Ouled Djellal (OD) rams.Materials and Methods:Eighteen mature (2-year-old) OD rams were equally allocated to three groups and fed during 11 weeks with one of three different experimental diets, that contained 0% (0 WD), 50% (50 WD), or 75% (75 WD) of WDs in concentrate diet. Live body weight (LBW), body condition scoring (BCS), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular weight (TW), sperm production and quality, plasma testosterone concentration (T), and sexual behavior (reaction time and number of mounts with ejaculation) were regularly recorded from every ram.Results:LBW, SC, and TW changed significantly among diet groups and during the experimental period (p<0.001), the highest averages were recorded in (0 WD) group. LBW, BCS, SC, TW, semen volume, and percentage of the positive hypo-osmotic swelling test were (p<0.001) positively influenced by flushing period. Nevertheless, sperm concentration showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease at day 30, followed by a return to the initial values afterward. There were no differences (p>0.05) between diet groups for plasma testosterone concentration and semen attributes, except that (50 WD) group expressed the lowest overall value of semen concentration. Furthermore, neither time nor diet affected (p>0.05) sperm motility and reproductive behavior parameters.Conclusions:It is possible to introduce WD as unconventional local feeding resources in flushing diet of breeding rams without disturbing their reproductive performance.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate some performances in Ouled Djellal (OD) rams. (21) rams divided equally into three age groups, I: 2-3 years, II: 4 years, III: 5-6 years, and were followed at farm in East Algeria, and 07 lambs, at the Artificial Insemination Centre (South-Eastern). We have determined monthly: antero-posterior diameter of testis, scrotal volume and circumference, and body weight (BW). Young rams showed an increase in values of BW and scrotal measurements (SM) with significant differences with p <0.01 and p <0.001 respectively since comparison "spring vs summer" and "spring vs autumn", and highly significant positive correlation between BW and SM but no between left and right testicle. A highly significant correlation is noted in Adult rams between BW and SM for groups I and II, no in group III. An important effect of age on BW and SM is noted with significant variation (from p <0.01 at p <0.001), since comparison groups I vs II, and I vs III but no in groups II vs III. This study showed a positive correlation between SM and BW and the peak of measurements is reached around 4 years of age and far to stabilize relatively thereafter

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of housing systems (free vs. tie-stall) and season (winter vs. spring) on the welfare of dairy cows through indices of cleanliness, leg health (straightness, hocks and knees), lameness score, body condition and milk production. This is to test the hypothesis that dairy cows in spring and free-stalls have a better quality of well-being than those kept in tie stalls in winter. For that, 299 dairy cows of the Holstein and Montbeliard breeds were selected from dairy farms in 6 communes of the Constantine governorate in eastern Algeria. The results showed that tie-stalled farms in winter were characterized by a lack of hygiene (P <0.001), with a stall cleanliness score of 7.62 and a frequency of 32.60% of dirty to very dirty cows. In the spring, the incidence of severe lameness does not exceed 9% in farms with tie stalls and more than 41% in mild lameness in housing with free stalls (P <0.001). Cows in tie stalls show a deviation of legs of 17° to 24° (57.97%). On the other hand, more than half of cows in free stalls show integumentary lesions (alopecia and swelling) of the carpal (60.25%) and tarsal joints (54.22%) (P <0.001). The percentage of fairly lean cows (score 2-2.5), housed in tie stalls, was significantly higher (18 to 44%) with a significantly low milk production (P <0.001). These results reflect a lack of comfort in tie-stall farms during winter which has an impact on dairy performance.