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ighty growing buffalo calves, 14-16 months old, with an average weight of 202 kg, were divided, randomly, into four equal experimental groups, (20 calves each), and used to investigate the effect of replacing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of soybean and yellow corn by dried distiller's grains with soluble (DDGS) in total mixed rations (TMR) (1,2,3 and 4, respectively). The experimental diets were nearly similar in crude protein (CP) (iso-nitrogenous) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) (iso-caloric). All animals were fed daily 3% of live body weight and the trial lasted for 180 days. Metabolism trials were carried out on three mature rams for each TMR to estimate nutrient digestibilities, nutritive values and nitrogen balance. The economic efficiency was also calculated. Significantly lower values of live body weight and daily gain were recorded for calves fed the control diet (TMRI). Significantly best values were achieved by calves fed the 30% followed by 20% dietary DDGS instead of soybean meal and yellow corn. Results of digestibility trials indicated that rams fed the control diet (TMRI) had significantly (P<0.05) lower digestibility coefficients, nutritive values and nitrogen utilization compared with other diets. No significant differences were observed (P<0.05) among the experimental groups in ruminal pH and the obtained values were within the normal ranges (6.70-6.84). Ammonia-N concentration was greater in control diet but, there was a linear decrease in ammonia-N concentration as the level of DDGS increased in the diets. Supplemented rations with DDGS showed significant increase in the level of TVFA's. Increasing level of DDGS in diets of calves' increased TP concentrations, being the lowest in TMRI (control), while albumin and globulin recorded insignificant differences among all diets. The values of AST were higher significantly (P<0.05) in rations containing DDGS than that of control. Values of serum-creatinine and cholesterol were not affected by dietary treatments. Blood parameters studied indicated normal physiological and healthy status of all experimental calves. Total body gain and daily gain were increased quadratically (P<0.05) with increasing DDGS replacement. Calves fed diets containing 20% or 30% DDGS recorded the best feed conversion values followed by 20% DDGS. It may be concluded that inclusion of DDGS with a rate of 30% from soybean meal and yellow corn in buffalo calves diet result in better net revenue, economical efficiency and feed cost per kg daily gain.

Eighteen male crossbred Friesian steers aged 15 months with (ILBW) of 286.91±6.01 kg were collected and divided into three similar groups (six in each). The objective was to study performance of steers using probiotic bacteria or allzyme in ration. Trail lasted about 150d. Each animal was fed individually a basal ration 65% CFM+25% CS+10% alfalfa hay on DM basis (T1,control) or 5g probiotic bacteria/h/d (T2) or 4g allzyme h/d (T3). Animals fed ration supplemented with probiotic bacteria (T2) appeared the highest significant (P<0.05) in DM, OM, CP, CF and EE digestibility. The nutritive values as TDN and DCP were (P<0.05) higher in (T2) and (T3) than control (T1). While Ruminal pH records at 0 and 3 hrs decreased significantly (P<0.05) with (T2) and (T3) compared to (T1). Also, the concentration of NH3-N decreased. However, TVFA's concentration in rumen liquor at 0 and 3 hrs with (T2) and (T3) were higher than (T1). Probiotic bacteria or allzyme led to significant increase (P<0.05) in total protein and globulin with decreasing albumin. The DMI tended to increase with T2 and T3. Whereas, the intake of TDN and DCP increased significantly (P<0.05) in (T2 and T3) than (T1). Feed supplementations showed significant (P<0.05) enhancement in feed conversion. Economic efficiency was high for T2 and T3 compared to T1. It could be summarized that adding probiotic bacteria and allzyme to fattening steers rations led to improve digestibility coefficient, rumen fermentation activity, blood parameters and feed intake, tended to increase DWG, feed efficiency and economic efficiency.

Eighteen crossbred Friesian calves weighed 95.3 ± 1.74 Kg on average were used in a feeding trial lasted for 180 days. Animals were divided into three similar groups (6 calves each) to study the effects of protecting proteins of soybean meal (SBM) and un-decorticated cottonseed meal (UCSM) by zinc sulphate on nutrients digestibility, some rumen fermentation characteristics, plasma metabolite concentrations and their reflection on growth performance of calves fed corn silage based diets. The ratio of corn silage to concentrate was 67 to 33 on the basis of dry matter and fed ad libitum. Diets were supplemented with SBM and UCSM; Zn-SBM and Zn-UCSM or a 50 : 50 combination of both Zn-protected and untreated sources.The obtained results indicated that digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, CF and NFE for calves fed treated proteins by zinc sulphate increased than those fed untreated materials. The improvements in digestibility of nutrients reflected better feeding values in terms of TDN and DCP for diets containing treated proteins than the control ones.Ruminal NH3-N and NPN concentrations were lower (P<0.05) for calves fed treated proteins by zinc sulphate than those fed untreated diet, indicating efficiency of the protection and / or better synchronization between availability of energy and release of NH3. On the other hand, ruminal true protein nitrogen (TPN) and protozoa count were higher (P<0.05) for calves fed zinc sulphate treated proteins and those received a ratio of 50 : 50 of combined treated sources than those fed the untreated ones. Ruminal acetic acid concentration decreased by 11.15% for calves fed protected proteins than those fed untreated proteins, whereas ruminal propionic acid increased by 8.29%.The concentration of plasma urea-N was decreased (P<0.05) in calves fed treated proteins by zinc sulphate than untreated materials, indicating better utilization of protected proteins. Whereas, the zinc sulphate protected protein diet resulted in the highest (P<0.05) values for plasma total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations.Average daily gain (ADG) was significantly (P<0.05) higher for calves fed treated proteins followed by calves fed diet treated and untreated proteins with a 50 : 50 combination of both Zn-protected and untreated ones, being 1.272, 1.178 and 0.962 Kg/h/d, respectively. Moreover, feed conversion efficiency (expressed as DM, TDN and DCP, Kg/Kg gain) were better for calves fed protected proteins than those fed unprotected proteins. Feed cost decreased by 29.8 and 25.7% for calves fed protected proteins and diet contained a 50 : 50 combination of both Zn-protected and untreated proteins, respectively than those fed unprotected protein. Accordingly, economical efficiency improved by 29.9 and 25.8% with diets contained protected proteins or a 50 : 50 combination of both Zn-protected and untreated sources than with diet contained untreated proteins.From the aforementioned results, this study recommends the use of zinc sulphate as a protection method for half or all SBM and UCSM pr...