his experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of using Acacia saligna leaf meal (ASLM) as a non-traditional feedstuff in Mamourah growing hens diets under desert conditions on the performance and economical efficiency of feed. One hundred eighty Mamourah growing hens 10 weeks of age were used in an experiment until 18 weeks of age. The experimental hens were randomly distributed into four equal groups, each group has 45 hens divided into three replicates with 15 hens each. The first group was received a basal diet as a control (0% ASLM) while the second, third and fourth groups were fed 4, 8 and 12% ASLM respectively. The current results showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in live body weight at 18 weeks of age with groups fed 4 and 8% ASLM compared to the other groups, while the effect of treatment was non-significant with the other ages. The best significant (P < 0.05) values of weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded with groups of hens fed 4% and 8% of ASLM in all periods of the experiment. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in feed intake with increasing the level of ASLM in the diet at the experimental periods from 10 to 14 and 10 to 18 weeks of age while this effect was not significant from 14 to 18 weeks of age. The group of hens that received 12% ASLM in the diet showed the lowest performance in comparison with the other groups. On the other hand, the level of 8% ASLM resulted in the best net return, economical efficiency and relative economical efficiency percent and the least feed cost of kg gain. Data of amino acids content of ASLM showed that methionine was the first limiting essential amino acid, while lysine were the second limiting amino acids. From the nutritional and economical efficiency viewpoints, Acacia saligna leaf meal could be used successfully and safely in the formulation of a diet for Mamourah growing hens up to 8% without adversely affecting on their performance under desert conditions.

inety unsexed one day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in this experiment. The experiment aimed to study the comparative effect of some feed additives as growth promoters such as selenium and zinc in their inorganic form on broiler growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency, some blood metabolites and carcass traits by adding them in the drinking water. The chicks were randomly distributed into three equal treatments. Each treatment had 30 chicks divided equally into five replicates. The experimental treatments were: The first treatment was served as a control (T1), while the second (T2) was given 0.8 mg sodium selenite / L of drinking water and the third treatment (T3) was given 1 g zinc oxide/ L. Sodium selenite (T2) showed the heaviest body weight (P<0.01), gained more weight consumed more feed and recorded the best value of feed efficiency ratio (P<0.001) compared to the other treatments. There were non-significant differences between control and zinc treatments in body weight and gain and feed efficiency ratio. There was a significant reduction in feed intake from 21 to 35 days of age and from 1 to 35 days of age for zinc treatment compared to the other treatments and significant increase from 1 to 21 days of age for the same treatment. A significant increase in triiodothyronine (T 3) (P<0.01) was observed in selenium and zinc treatments (T2 and T3 respectively) compared to the control treatment. About plasma urea, creatinine, ALT and AST, total lipid, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, globulin and their ratio (A/G ratio) and carcass traits, there were nonsignificant (P>0.05) differences among the experimental treatments. Zinc treatment (T3) recorded the lowest percent (3.85%) of mortality. It was concluded that supplementation of selenium in broiler drinking water improved broiler performance and zinc addition did not have adverse effects on growth rate and the functions of blood.

No abstract

A total number of 180 Sina growing hens 10 weeks of age were used in an experiment till 18 weeks of age. The experiment aimed to study effect of feeding growing hens different levels of Atriplex nummularia leaves meal (ALM) on their performance and feed cost under South Sinai conditions. Experimental birds were divided randomly into four equal experimental treatments (45 in each treatment) and randomly divided into three equal replicates (15 hens each).The first group was fed the basal diet as a control treatment (0 % ALM), while the other three treatments were fed diets containing either 4,8 or 12 % ALM, respectively. Experimental diets were formulated to be iso-caloric (2800 kcal ME /kg diet) and iso-nitrogenous (15% crude protein), iso-fibrous (3.15%) and were formulated in granular form. The inclusion of 8% ALM showed improve in live body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio with .greater net return and economical efficiency in the diet compared to the other levels. while, decrease (P < 0.05) in live body weight, weight gain and feed intake with the inclusion of 12% ALM in the diet compared to the other levels, Increasing 12% ALM level in the diets significantly decreased (P<0.05) digestion coefficients of OM, CP, CF, NFE% and nutritive values expressed as DCP, TDN % and ME (kcal/kg) up to 12%. However, 12% of ALM significantly increased (P<0.05) digestion coefficient of EE. In conclusion, from the nutritional and economical efficiency stand points of view, up to 8% ALM could be recommended to be used successfully and safely when formulating diet for Sina local growing hens without adversely affecting their performance.