This investigation included two experiments. Experiment 1 was executed to study the effect of feeding different rations of protected protein of canola meal on digestibility and nutritive values within sheep. Twenty male, healthy sheep were divided into five treatments according to the methods of protein protection (control, heat, sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde, and acetic acid treatments). Experiment 2 was carried out on developing lambs to investigate the effect of protected protein on growth performance and some blood metabolites. Animals in this ex-periment were also divided into the same treatments as Experiment 1. Animals in the first and second experiment were fed concentrate ration (80%) and wheat straw (20%) to cover the feed requirements. Nutritive values expressed as total digestible nutrients (TDN %) and digestible crude protein (DCP%) of the experimental rations was calculated. In the second experimental all animals were weighed biweekly and the amounts of rations were adjusted throughout the experimental period (120 days) according to their body weight change. Results indicated that in the first experimental protected protein by heat (HE) and sodium hydroxide (NH) had positive (P<0.05) effects on most of digestibility coefficients of different nutrients. Protein protection methods also improved (P<0.05) the nutritive values (TDN and DCP) in the HE treatment and NH treatment. In the second experiment body weight increased by 14% and 7% and also daily gain by 27% and14 % in HE and NH, respectively, while FM and AC decreased body weight by 8% and 4.4%. Higher values (P<0.01) in both thyroid hormones were observed in HE and NH than those other treatments. Also, higher values (P<0.01) of total protein, albumin, and glucose were observed in HE and NH than other treatments. The control (CTL) group recorded higher concentrations of urea-N and creatinine at different periods of the experiment in comparison with other treatments. Generally, from the present investigation it can be concluded that protected protein of canola meal by heat or sodium hydroxide treatments were more efficient for productive performance and some blood metabolites of sheep

his study was conducted to determine the effects of zinc supplementation either from inorganic or organic sources on digestibility, blood metabolites and animal performance. Twelve buffalo calves of 11-13 months of age weighing 257.66 ± 26.41 kg were divided into three similar groups of 4 calves each, where G1 was served as control ration, and was fed the basal diet consisting of roughage and concentrate mixture. While the two tested groups were fed the same basal diet, but supplemented with 30 mg Zn//head/day of Zn sulphate (G2). And supplemented with 30 mg Zn//head/day as Zink methionine ( G3). The basal diet contains 28.3 mg/kg Zn, and , additionally, the doses of Zn in the tested groups were orally supplemented. All animals of these groups were fed 80% of their requirements as concentrate mixture and the rest of requirements were covered from wheat straw and alfalfa hay in equal quantities . The daily requirements of energy and crude protein for growing calves were cover according (NRC, 2001). Results indicated that supplemented Zn methionine or Zn sulphate to calves diet increased significantly (p< 0.05) all nutrient digestibilities and feeding value in terms of TDN and DCP as compared with control group. Also, Supplemented Zn methionine for calves' diet increased significantly (p< 0.05) the consenterion of serum Zn, plasma T3 and decreased significantly (p< 0.05) cholesterol concentration as compared with Zn sulphate and control groups. While , serum total protein, Albumin, globulin, and AST were not affected significantly by zinc supplementation from inorganic or organic sources in buffalos calves in comparison with control ration . The body weight and daily gain were significantly higher (P<0.05) for claves fed supplemented Zn-methionine or zinc sulphate ration, than those fed control one . The body weight gain in Zn-methionine group was increased by about 35.29% and 16.59 % than those fed control or zinc sulphate ration , respectively. There was no significant difference in total feed intake among different groups. Supplementation of Zn-meth significantly (P<0.05) improved the feed conversion efficiency and the feed cost/kg weight gain as compared with Zn sulphate and control groups.From the results of this study it could be concluded that supplemented zinc from inorganic or organic sources in buffalo's calves diets improved digestibility and performances of growing buffalo and calves could be recommended that supplement Zn-methionine to growing buffaloes calves rations under Upper Egypt conditions because of its higher bioavailability than Zn sulphate.

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he aim of this study was to evaluate some reproductive performance of male lambs, digestibility coefficients and feeding values of rations as affected by supplementation of different selenium (Se) sources. Twenty-four healthy Sohagi male lambs (7-8 month old and 24.47±0.15 kg body weight) were randomly assigned into four dietary treatment groups (6 animals each).The experiment was extended for 25-weeks after two weeks as adaptation period. Basal diet was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements according to the NRC (1985) except Se. Lambs in the first group were fed a basal diet as a control (T0) without supplement whereas lambs in groups T1, T2, and T3 were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1 mg/kg DM sodium selenite, vitamin E and selenium and selenized yeast (Se-yeast T3) , respectively. Three rams from each group (average body weight 44.21 ± 4.90 kg) of feeding trial were placed in metabolic cages for perform four digestibility coefficients trials to evaluate the digestibility and feeding values of the experimental rations. Five-day preliminary period was followed by a collection period of ten days with quantitative collection the feces. Blood samples from three animals in each group were collected before offering feed and water throughout the experimental period at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months of the experimental period . Results showed that ration supplemented with selenized yeast (T3) had a higher DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE digestibility coefficients than the other three treatments and the differences mostly were significant in most nutrients between T3 and each of T1 and control (T0) group. Generally, digestibility coefficients of DM were 66.66%, 68.94%, 70.31%, and 71.98% for control (T0), T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Also the values of TDN and DCP were behaved similar trend among dietary treatments as well as the digestion coefficients of all nutrients. The present results illustrated that testes weight recorded higher values in T3, T2, T1 compared to control group (T0), but the differences among treatments were not significant. In addition, the concentrations of selenium in testes were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3, followed by T2 and T1, while the lowest value was recorded in the control group (T0), with significant difference between each other. Also, results illustrated that values of testes circumference, testes volume and testosterone concentration at the beginning of experiment showed no significant differences among treatments, while at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months of experimental period T3 group recorded higher (p<0.01) or values of three mentioned testes parameters compared with T2, T1 and control (T0) treatments. Generally, T3 and T2 recorded higher and significantly values in comparison with T1 and control group (T0). Also, data showed that both diameter of testes and plasma testosterone concentration increased with advancing of age. In addition, values of plasma thyroid hormones concentrations recorded significantly(p<0.01) higher values as a results of supplementation of different s...

he current study was conducted to investigate the effect of addition green tea and tetracycline hydrochloride or both of them to growing buffalo rations on digestibility, blood metabolites and animal performance. Twelve buffalo calves of 11-13 months of age weighing 213 ±3.52 kg were divided into 4 groups of 3 animals each. Dried green tea was added to calves in basic diet (control) at levels of 0.5 % (T1), 1 % tetracycline hydrochloride (T2), and 1 % dried green tea and 1% tetracycline hydrochloride (T3) for 4 month experimental period . All animals of these groups were fed 80% of their requirements as concentrate mixture while wheat straw and alfalfa hay was given. The quantity of concentrate mixture was adjusted every month according to change in body weight (NRC, 2001). The results indicated that dietary supplementation of green tea and tetracycline, or both of them did not significantly (p<0.05) affect on all nutrient digestibility, except EE digestibility was significantly (p<0.05) lower in group T3 than control. No statistically significant differences were observed among the feed supplemented groups for blood proteins, namely albumin and globulin. Buffalos calves fed rations supplemented with tetracycline in T2 or tetracycline and green tea in T3 decreased significantly (P<0.05) serum total cholesterol as compared with those fed control and green tea rations (163.80 and 166.99 vs. 196.17 and 203.31 respectively). Also, no significant differences were observed among all treatments for ALT and AST. However, it was noticed that buffalos fed supplemented tetracycline and green tea in T3 tended to be lower by 3.5 % and 7.3 % for ALT and AST respectively than control group. On the other hand, performance of growing calves in terms of average daily gain, total dry matter intake and fed conversion ratio did not affected by supplemented green tea and tetracycline or both of them to rations. From the results of this study it can be concluded that incorporating green tea at a rate of 0.5 % and tetracycline at a rate of 1 %is Insufficient to improve digestibility and performances of growing buffalo, however mixed feed additive from green tea and tetracycline by rate 1% may be suitable for buffalo's calves, which slightly improvements were noticed.