No abstract

Twenty-four crossbred ram lambs (1/2 Finnish Landrace ×1/2 Rahmani) aged 3-4 months and averaged 22.25±0.93 kg live body weight were randomly divided into three treatments (8 lambs in each) according to their live body weight. The experimental period lasted 6 months from May to October 2015. Ram lambs were orally treated with 0 (control), 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) mg rocket oil (RO)/kg LBW. Growth performance, puberty and semen characteristics of ram lambs, some blood parameters and economic efficiency were estimated. The results showed that final LBW of ram lambs at puberty increased (P<0.05) in T2 and T1 as compared to control. Total weight gain increase (P<0.05) in T2 compared with control (18.22 vs.16.62 kg). Average daily gain was higher (P<0.05) in T2 than in T1 and control (161.2 vs. 125.6 and 112.3 g/d). Ram lambs of T2 expressed first ejaculate (puberty) 34.6 days earlier (P<0.05) than those in control. Scrotal circumference and testes volume increased (P<0.05) in T1 and T2 compared with in control. Semen quality (ejaculate volume, initial motility, live spermatozoa, sperm cell concentration and sperm output) was better (P<0.05) in T2 and T1 than in control. Serum total antioxidant capacity was higher (P<0.05) in T2 than in control and T1. Relative economic feed efficiency increased for T1 and T2 lambs (111 and 137%) compared with controls. It could be conclude that daily addition of 2 mg rocket oil (watercress oil)/kg live body weight of ram lambs could lead to earlier age at puberty, improvement in growth performance at puberty, higher reproductive ability and better economic feed efficiency of ram lambs.

Thirty-six Zaraibi doe goats of 3-5 years old and average live body weight (LBW) of 28.14±0.93kg were randomly distributed into three groups (12 doe goats in each) according to their LBW and reproductive status. The experimental period of does lasted for 12 months and buck treatment started two months before breeding season in September. Mating was carried out using twelve sexually mature fertile and tested bucks of 41.25±2.1 kg LBW and aged 24 months were divided into three groups receiving the same treatments of doe goats.Rocket oil (watercress oil) was received daily oral does at levels of 0, 1 and 2 mg/kg LBW for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. The results showed that the bucks in G3 showed the highest (P<0.05) scrotal circumferences (30.25 cm), followed by G2 (29.25 cm) and G1 (27.75 cm) at the end of experiment. Bucks in G3 showed the lowest (P<0.05) reaction time and abnormal sperm percentage and the highest (P<0.05) ejaculate volume, and percentages of sperm motility, and live sperm, as well as sperm concentration and total sperm output compared with G2 and G1. Fertility rate was 90, 100 and 100% for mated does and 75, 91.66 and 91.66% for all treated does in G1, G2 and G3, respectively (P<0.05). Litter size and sex ratio were the highest (P<0.05) in G3 and G2 compared with G1, while mortality rate was the lowest (P<0.05) in G3 (6.26%), followed by G2 (11.11%) and G1 (15.38%). Weaning weight, total gain and average daily gain of born kids were higher (P<0.05) in G3 than in G2 and G1. Average daily milk yield was higher (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1, being 1318 and 1426 vs. 1162 g, respectively. Percentage and yield of milk constituents were higher (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1. Only, concentration of serum albumin increased (P<0.05) with rocket oil additive as compared to G1, while the other blood parameters were insignificantly different among the experimental groups. Does in G3 showed the highest economic feed efficiency for milk production as compared to those in G2 and G1.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of treated sunflower meal with 2% condensed tannins (Quebracho tannins, QT; Unitan, Argentina) or/and Chamomile Flowers supplementation on productive performance of Zaraibi dairy goats and their offspring. A feeding trial was conducted using twenty pregnant goats at the 3 rd and 4 th parities and initial body weight 35.55 ± 0.62 kg at the last month before parturition and lasted for 90 days after parturition. Animals were divided into four similar groups (n=5does/each) using the randomized complete block design. Goats were fed concentrate feed mixture (CFM) to cover 50% of their requirements according to NRC (1985) for goats and rice straw (RS) was given by 150 g/head/day; while berseem was given at ad-libitum. Group G1 (control) received CFM contained untreated sunflower meal, while group G2 fed CFM contained untreated sunflower meal and supplemented with 0.25% Chamomile Flowers (Ch-F) and G3 fed CFM contained treated sunflower meal with 2% tannin (Quebracho) and G4 fed CFM contained treated sunflower meal with 2% tannin (Quebracho) and supplemented with 0.25% (Ch-F) on DM basis. Results indicated that digestibility of most nutrients and feeding values were significantly higher (P<0.05) with G2 than those of other groups. While, digestibility of CP was significantly higher (P<0.05) for all tested groups than that of control one. Ruminal ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acids concentrations were lower significantly (P<0.05) in G3 and G4 than G1 and G2. Daily milk yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher with G4 over the whole experimental period than that of control and insignificant higher than the other tested rations. Meantime, the improvement in 4% fat corrected milk yield being 124, 110 and 103% for G4, G3 and G2 compared to that of G1 over the whole experimental period. Milk constituent contents did not significantly affected by dietary treatments despite there were slightly increases in milk constituents with G4 ration in comparison with the other treatments. Also, feed conversion as kg DMI, TDNI or DCPI per kg milk improved for G4 in comparison of other groups. Economic efficiency of G4 recorded the best one among the experimental treatments and increased by 21.18% based on control ration (G1). Also, G4 revealed significant (P<0.05) positive effect on final weight, total and daily weight gains for kids during suckling period. No deleterious effects on liver, kidney functions and general health of animals fed the manipulated rations. It could be concluded that the protection process of sunflower meal with 2% QT and supplemented with 0.25% Chamomile Flower (G4) was more beneficially effective on Zaraibi dairy goats performance and economic efficiency.