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This study was implemented to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of whole corn plant silage (WCS) by pomegranate peel silage (PPS) treated with enzymes mixed (ZYMOGEN) or lactic acid bacterial inoculants (Inoculant 1188) on nutrient digestibility and productive performance of dairy cows. The first experiment two stacks of PPS and WCS were prepared. WCS was replaced by PPS, at 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25, respectively used in forming three rations. The second experiment has been carried with twenty lactating crossbred Friesian cows in four similar groups (5 cows / group): the control group was fed a ration consisting of WCS. G1 (WCS replaced with untreated PPS at level 50:50), G2 (WCS replaced with PPS treated with bacterial inoculants at level 50:50) and G3 (WCS replaced with PPS treated with ZYMOGEN at level 50:50). The results showed the values of CP, NFE and lactic acid were highest, while values of NDF, ADF, pH, the concentration of NH3 -N and acetic acid were lowest in all groups treated PPS. The values of digestibility coefficients, nutritive values, ruminal fluid fermentation of TVFAs and acetic acid, milk yield, 4% FCM, milk composition, blood proteins were highest, while the values of ruminal fluid fermentation of pH and NH3 N were lowest in group 2 and 3 compared with other groups. It concluded that using of treated or untreated pomegranate peel is safe in dairy cows feeding at a level of 20%. The addition of ZYMOGEN or inoculant 1188 to PPS improved fermentation and nutritive quality of silage along with its nutritive values.

Background The aim of this study is a comparison between some different protein sources in sheep rations to identify the best protein source that achieves the highest production performance and the lowest economical feed efficiency. Twenty Farafra male lambs weighed on average 41.39 ± 1.66 kg were divided randomly into four similar groups of 5 animals each. All groups were fed on concentrate feed mixture (CFM) at 3% of their body weight, and wheat straw fed ad lib. to replace 100% of the soybean meal (SBM) as a source of protein, black cumin seed meal (BCSM), cottonseed meal (CSM) and sesame seed meal (SSM) were incorporated into the CFM. The feeding trial extended for 66 days followed by digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance trials. Results The results indicated no difference in total feed intake between experimental groups. Digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and crude fiber for animals fed CSM ration was higher (p < 0.05) than those fed the other rations. On the other hand, the CSM ration recorded a higher value of digestible crude protein than SBM and BCSM rations. Lambs gave rations containing CSM was higher (p < 0.05) average daily weight gain compared with those fed the other rations. Lambs that fed CSM ration were better to feed conversion as kg dry matter intake/kg gain than those fed the other rations. Relative economic efficiency was the best for CSM ration as compared to other protein sources. Nitrogen balance value of sheep fed CSM diet had the highest (p < 0.05) value compared with those fed different sources. Rumen fermentation showed that the pH value was the lowest with SSM, NH3-N concentration was higher for BCSM and SSM, and total volatile fatty acids were higher for SBM compared with the other rations. Conclusion It could be concluded that cottonseed meal was the best treatment for digestibility coefficient, average daily gain, highest nitrogen balance, better feed conversion ratio and also the best economic efficiency compared to soybean meal, black cumin seed meal and sesame seed meal treatments. It can replace 100% soybean meal by cottonseed meal in sheep ration when economics is to be considered.

Background: This filed work was conducted to describe the morphological features of Shami goats in subtropical areas in Egypt. The study covered Southern Sinai and Noubaria districts in Egypt. Data were collected from 30 goats of different age groups. Fifteen were males and 15 were females. Results: Results show that male was heavier and longer than female. The mean live body weight (LBW) of the male group was 35.40 kg, while that of female group was 33.46 kg. However, these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). The body length (BL) of male recorded 77.80 cm, while that of the female was 74.73 cm. Similarly, the heart girth (HG), as well as withers height (WH), was also higher (P < 0.05) in male than those of the female. Both HG (r = 0. 98) and neck circumference (NC) (r = 0.96) presented the highest correlations with LBW of males, while the measurements of BL and head length (HEL) presented the highest correlations (r = 0.95-0.86) with LBW of females. Live body weight of the male was accurately and significantly (P < 0.01) predicted by the measurements of HG and NC with R 2 = 0.98. While BL and paunch girth (PG) were significantly (P < 0.01) used to predict LBW of the female with R 2 = 0.92. Stepwise regression analysis determined that BL and HG were the major significant contributors to the LBW prediction equation of total (male and female). Body length was the first independent variable to enter the model followed by HG, NC, and PG entered the best-fitted regression models. Thus, they were the variables entered to obtain the optimal regression models. The high correlation values between predicted and actual live body weight measurements give credence to the validity of using these models for predicting live weights of Shami goats. Conclusions: From this data, it could be concluded that the live weight can be predicted with high accuracy from some body measurements which can be exploited by goat producers for management, selection, and genetic improvement of Shami goats and could be used successfully in new breeding programs in Egypt.