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The efficiency of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, meat composition and nutrient digestibility of lambs fed crushed whole palm leaf hay was investigated for 105 d. In Experiment 1 (Growth experiment), twenty-four lambs (29.5 ± 1.25 kg) were divided into four feed-based treatments: (1) concentrate and wheat straw ad libitum (control), (2) palm leaf hay (DPL), (3) palm leaf hay supplemented with 2 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL2) or (4) palm leaf hay supplemented with 4 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL4). In Experiment 2 (Digestibility experiment), twelve rams, three from each treatment, were used to study nutrient digestibility using the faecal bag technique. Results of the Experiment 1 showed that the DPL4 showed greater (P=0.049) live-weight gain than the control. The diets containing palm leaf hay showed lower (P=0.001) roughage and total feed intake and higher (P=0.001) feed efficiency than the control. Increased serum total protein, globulin, urea-N, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed with the DPL4 (P˂0.05). Additionally, diets containing palm leaf hay showed higher ALT levels than the control. The DPL4 increased the hot carcass weight (P=0.006) and dressing percentage (P=0.036), and the diets supplemented with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium decreased (P˂0.05) the tail fat and all fat levels compared with the DPL treatment. Results of the Experiment 2 showed that nutrient digestibility was lower (P˂0.05) with the DPL and DPL2 than with the control and DPL4. Compared with the control, nutrient digestibility of DPL4 was not affected. It is concluded that replacement of wheat straw with palm leaf hay did not affect the feed utilization or animal performance of the lambs; however, supplementation with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium at 4 g/lamb daily enhanced the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics without any adverse effects on blood metabolites.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pre and post-lambing intramuscular (i.m.) injections of vitamin E (VE) and selenium (Se) on the performance, reproductive indices and metabolic status of Ossimi ewes. A total of 20 pregnant ewes were divided randomly into two equal groups of ten animals. The control group (CG) was administered 3 ml of normal saline. The treated group (TG) was administered a combination of 5 mg of sodium selenite and 450 mg of VE twice weekly for 2 weeks pre and post lambing. The performance, reproductive indices, colostrum and milk mineral profiles, blood metabolites and antioxidant enzyme biomarkers were investigated in this experiment. VE and Se supplementation had a significant effect on ewe, lamb performance, colostrum and milk mineral profiles. The treated ewes lost less weight (0.7 kg) compared with the ewes in the control group (3.68 kg) on 30 th day postpartum (P<0.001). Lambs born to treated ewes were heavier than those born to control ewes (4.47 kg vs 3.99 kg, respectively), gained more daily weight quickly (268.66 vs. 226.00 g, respectively, P<0.001) and weighed more on 30 th day post-lambing (12.53 vs. 10.77 kg, respectively, P<0.001). Treated ewes had higher concentrations of blood glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, antioxidant enzyme biomarkers, and lower concentrations of serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). VE and Se supplementation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on postpartum reproductive performance of ewes in terms of fast uterine involution, earlier resumption of ovarian function and ovulation with large size ovulatory follicles, and greater numbers of small, medium, and large-sized follicles. In conclusion, VE and Se supplementation during late gestation and early lactation could be considered an effective strategy for minimizing the weight loss of ewes, enhancing lamb performance, the antioxidant and metabolic status, which improves the reproductive performance of Ossimi ewes.

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of kisspeptin‐10 (Kp10) injection on semen characteristics, testosterone (T) production and sperm rheotaxis using microfluidic devices in immature ram. Computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinetic parameters of sperm and positive rheotaxis (PR %). PR % was defined as the number of PR sperms over the number of motile sperms. Healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into two groups; a saline‐treated control group and Kp10‐treated one (5 µg/kg body weight). Treatments were given by intramuscular injection once a week for 1 month. After 1 month, the semen was collected and evaluated weekly for 6 weeks, while the blood samples were collected every 2 weeks for the next 8 weeks. Semen properties were significantly affected by Kp10 injection (p < .01). The Kp10 increased the volume, sperm concentration and percentages of live sperm compared with those of control. Additionally, sperm trajectories and rheotaxis get improved by the injection of Kp10 with time. Furthermore, kisspeptin improved the secretion of testosterone levels throughout the period of study. In conclusion, injections of the Kp10 had a positive impact on semen characteristics as well as improved sperm rheotaxis of Ossimi rams in subtropics.

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The reproductive success is a complex peculiarity in male and female within the species because many physiological and behavioural processes are involved to perform a reproduction goal (David et al., 2014). The reproductive performance of sheep depends, among other reasons, on the fertilizing capacity of the rams (Fthenakis et al., 2001). Predications of fertility based on semen traits have been studied in the males of many species, including ram (Rodríguez-Martínez, 2003), and several factors contribute to the fertility of individual animals such as semen quality, hormonal defects, physical reasons, sexual problems, genetic factors, environment and lifestyle (Emad, Majid, Sina, & Ali, 2020; O' Meara et al., 2008). Factors relating to an efficiency of sperm quality analysis (include concentration, appearance, viability and motility of sperm) on potential fertility of males and semen need to become more efficient better (Yániz, Palacín, Vicente-Fiel, Sánchez-Nadal, & Santolaria, 2015). Motility, concentration and morphology, as parameters of routine sperm analysis, are used to qualify a ram for selection, particularly in those used in artificial insemination (AI) (Rodríguez-Martínez, 2003). Despite numerous efforts by researchers to identify the relationships between semen traits to in vivo fertility, but wide ranges of variation and low expected value were displayed