Eighteen 4-month-old lambs, with a mean live weight (LW) of 19.47 ± 0.20 kg, were used to evaluate the nutritive value of date palm leaves (DPL) ensiled with different additives in a completely randomized design. Lambs were stratified into three groups of 6 lambs each and fed a control diet comprising 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and 40% DPL silage (T1). In other treatments, the DPL silage (DPLS) of the control treatment was replaced with EM1 additive-treated DPLS (T2) or El-Mofeed additive-treated DPLS (T3). Apparent digestibility, total digestible nutrient, digestible crude protein, dry matter intake, daily weight gain (DWG), price of DWG, daily profit, and economics of feed efficiency were higher (P < 0.05) for the additives-treated DPLS relative to the control, with T2 enhancing these parameters compared with T3. With exception of ruminal pH, which was reduced, concentrations of ruminal NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) increased 4 h post feeding. However, ruminal NH3-N and total VFA were greater (P < 0.05) for the additives-treated DPLS, with T2 producing higher values than T3. Ruminal pH and feed cost/kg LW gain were lower for T2 relative to other treatments. Blood constituents were within the normal ranges for lambs, though slightly altered by treatments. Whereas serum total protein, albumin, and globulin were affected (P < 0.05) in this rank order, T1 < T3 < T2, other serum parameters were not affected. Relative feed cost and relative daily profit were lower and higher respectively for T2 than for T3. It is concluded that additives-treated DPLS is nutritionally superior to untreated DPLS as a roughage source in total mixed rations fed to growing lambs. However, for improved performance of the lambs and economic benefits, EM1-treated DPLS is recommended.

Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on the digestion, immunoglobulin concentration, some blood parameters, average daily gain, feed conversion and economic efficiency of suckling Friesian calves. A total of 28 newly born Friesian calves with weighing 31.42±1.9 kg were divided into two similar groups, 14 calves in each group. The first group (G1) was served as a control, while the second group (G2) was supplemented with 0.2 ml/kg LBW from flaxseed oil in suckling milk from birth up to weaning. Results showed that digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE and feeding values as TDN and DCP as well as feed intakes as TDN and DCP were higher (P<0.05) in G2 than in G1. Blood plasma immunoglobulins concentrations were higher (P<0.05) during different suckling intervalsin G2 than in G1. Red and white blood cells count, percentages of monocytes, neutrophils and package cell volume, and haemoglobin concentration increased (P<0.01) in G2 than in G1. Percentages of basophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes were not affected by supplementation. Concentration of total protein, albumin and globulin in plasma were increased (P<0.05-P<0.01), while, albumin to globulin ratio and concentration of total lipids, creatinine and urea-N concentrations decreased (P<0.01) in G2 than in G1. Plasma glucose concentrations and AST and ALT activities were nearly similar in both groups. Live body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion improved (P<0.001) in G2 than in G1. Economic efficiency was higher (P<0.05) in G2 than in G1. It could be concluded that flaxseed oil supplementation in milk of suckling Friesian calves (0.2 ml/kg LBW) during the suckling period improved growth performance and economic efficiencies as well as immune-response of Friesian calves without adversity effects on digestibility, haematological and biochemical parameters.

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of corn grain by discarded dates on silage quality and their effect on digestibility, milk production and composition. Sixteen crossbreed lactating Friesian cows were assigned to four balanced groups and fed individually for 90 days on experimental rations whereas: all the groups were received a basal diet with one of four kinds of silages as follows: 100 % crushed corn grain (T1), 75 % crushed corn grain + 25% discarded dates (T2), 50 % crushed corn grain + 50 % discarded dates (T3) and 25 % crushed corn grain + 75 % discarded dates (T4) on gross energy based, respectively. Results found that there was slight tendency to increase silage DM content with increasing the entry level of discarded dates. Silages containing discarded dates displayed OM and ash contents nearly identical to those of the control diet. The pH values of the tested silage samples ranged from 3.89 in S1 to 3.72 in S4. The ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration in silage was decreased with increasing proportion of discarded dates in the silage. The digestibility coefficient of DM and OM were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the diets containing discarded dates than in the control diet. However, there was insignificant (P>0.05) increases in the digestibility of CP, CF, NDF and ADF for dietary treatment T2, T3 and T4 compared to the control (T1). Also, no significantly (P>0.05) different of dry matter intake was observed among dietary treatments. The highest actual milk and 4% fat corrected milk yield were recorded with T4 (10.87 and 10.24, respectively), while the lowest values for these items were corresponding to T1 (10.06 and 8.56, respectively) but the differences were not significant. Regarding of milk pH value, milk protein and ash contents have the same trend among groups with nonsignificant different among groups. However, there were significant differences in the milk percentages of fat, solid not fat (SNF), lactose and total solids between T1 (the lowest one) and each of T2, T3 and T4. Results of this study indicated that partial replacement of yellow corn grains by discarded dates up to 75% as a source of energy in silage did not show any negative effect on digestibility, feed efficiency, milk yield and composition in crossing Friesian cows.

his experiment was conducted to study the effect of biological and chemical treatments of olive trees by-products on chemical composition, degradability, cell wall constituents, digestibility and nutritive value and its feeding effect on productive performance of growing sheep. Eighteen (½ Finnish Landrace × ½ Rahmani) lambs with average body weight 18.00±0.40 kg and 4 months old were used in this study for 120 days. Lambs were distributed into three similar groups (6 lambs each) and randomly assigned to three experimental rations. The three respective rations composed of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + olive trees by-products, the control ration (R1) contained untreated olive tree by-products; (R2) treated olive trees byproducts with EM1 and (R3) treated olive trees by-products with El-mofeed. The digestibility and nutritive values of experimental rations were determined using nine adult Ossimi rams. Rumen liquor and blood samples were collected at the end of collection period. The results showed that nutrient digestibility and feeding values (TDN and DCP) were higher (P<0.05) for rations containing treated olive trees by-products than control. The highest values of TDN and DCP were observed for R2. Digestibility of cell wall constituents (NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose) were improved by treatments. Concentrations of rumen parameters (NH 3-N and TVFA's) were significantly (P<0.05) increased by treatments. However, no significant (P>0.05) differences were found in blood constituents (total protein, albumin, globulin, GOT, GPT and urea) among the different experimental groups. Blood sereum constituents were generally normal in all experimental groups. Growth performance with respect to total body weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) were improved by biological and chemical treatments. The same trend was observed for feed conversion and economic efficiency and the best values were recoded with R2. It was concluded that inclusion of biologically treated olive trees by-products to rations of growing (½ Finnish Landrace × ½ Rahmani) lambs could improve their performance especially treatment of olive trees by-products.