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his study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of cotton seed meal in concentrate mixture by Nigella sativa (N. sativa) meal on nutrients digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites and performance of lambs. Eighteen of healthy Farafra male lambs aged between 5 and 6 months old and had average of 27.2 ± 1.3 kg body weights. The lambs were randomly assigned into three groups, 6 animals each lasted for 90 days. The experimental groups were a control group (CON) fed basal diet containing concentrate mixture plus wheat straw and treated groups were fed basal diet plus 33.3% (T1) and 66.7% (T2 ) as a substitution of cottonseed meal by N. sativa in concentrate mixture. The lambs were fed 65% of their requirements as a concentrate mixture based on NRC guidelines and the rest were covered from wheat straw which given as roughages ad libitum. Three digestible trials were conducted with twelve mature local rams, distributed into three group and using three experimental diets, CON, T1 andT2. In growth trail body weight were recorded and daily gain were calculated. Plasma metabolites, ALT, AST enzymes, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in blood samples. In digested trail rumen liquor samples were collected to measure the protozoal count, pH, ammonia N and total VFAs concentrations. Feed and fecal samples were analyzed using AOAC (2012). The results were statistically analyzed using of SPSS statistical package. The results refer to the body weight and daily gain in T2 group was increased as compared with T1 and CON groups. The total DM and CP intake were higher (P<0.05) in T2 group as compared with CON group. The partially substitution of cotton seed meal by N. sativa meal increased (P<0.05) the concentrations of NH3-N and total VFAs, while the total protozoal count in rumen fluids was decreased (P < 0.05) as compared with CON group. Also, the plasma cholesterol and ALT enzyme was decreased (P< 0.05) in N. sativa meal groups compared to control group. However, T3 hormone and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were higher (P<0.05) in N. sativa groups than control group. The nutrient digestibility was increased (P < 0.05) with increasing substitution rate from 33.3 to 66.7% of cotton seed meal by N. sativa meal. It can be concluded that the partial replacement of cottonseed meal in concentrate mixture by N. sativa can be used as an unconventional protein source in lambs' rations with no any harmful effect on performance of growing lambs..

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some herbal extracts on growth performance and blood parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits under Upper Egypt conditions of the summer season. Seventy two weaned rabbits At 5 week 's age (743.17±12.4 g body weight) were randomly divided into 6 groups. Control group, rabbits received water without additives. In C1 and C2 groups, rabbits received chamomile aqueous extract at 5 and 10 ml/L of drinking water, respectively. In R1 and R2 groups, rabbits received rosemary aqueous extract at 5 and 10 ml/L of drinking water, respectively. The last group (CR) rabbits received a mixture from chamomile and rosemary aqueous extract 5 /L water. During the experimental period the body weight, average daily gain, feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FC) and some blood parameters were estimated. Also, the mortality rate was calculated. The result revealed that the supplement a combination of chamomile and rosemary (CR) increased (P< 0.05) average body weight gain and daily gain as compared C1, R1 and R2 groups. The feed intakes did not affected between the treated groups and control one. However, the feed conversion ratio was significant improved (P<0.01) of rabbits drinking water contains a mixture of chamomile and rosemary extracts (CR) when compared with rosemary groups (R1and R2). The Serum total protein (TP), albumin, glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower (P<0.05) in all treated groups than control group. Supplementing chamomile at levels 5ml and 10ml/L to drink water of rabbits decreased the concentration of serum urea and creatinine when compared with control group. Supplement rosemary extract at 10 ml/L to drinking water of growing rabbits increased (P˂0.05) the number of WBCs as compared with control group (7.07 vs. 3.65 x10 3 , respectively).