his study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of Acacia saligna leaves hay (ALH) on dry matter intake, milk yield, composition and lambs growth rate from birth to weaning. Forty Barki ewes at the start of lactation stage averaged 3-5 years old with an average live body weight 38.8±1.6 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments groups (ten ewes per group), were fed with 0, 20, 40 and 60% of ALH as berseem hay replacement. The experiment lasted 16 weeks and showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in daily dry matter intake ewes body weight change, milk yield and compositions and lambs daily gain during lactation season due to the supplementation of lactating ewes with graded levels of ALH compared with control treatment. Milk yield values were 24.1, 23.9, 24.2 and 24.3 g/d and ADG values were 147.3, 145.5, 152.7 and 150.9 g/d for control, 20, 40 and 60% ALH, respectively. It may be concluded that A. saligna leaves hay can be used as alternative feed sources for lactating ewes.

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An experiment was planned and conducted in order to study the effect of barley grains and date stones as energy-source supplements with Berseem hay on the voluntary feed intake and digestibility as well as concentration of some blood components of camels. Three one humped female camels (avg. BW 467 kg) were used in 3 x 3 Latin Square design. Three diets (H, B and BD) were tested throughout the whole experiment. The first diet H; sole Berseem hay was offered ad lib. B; camels were given a calculated amount of barley to provide supplementation as 100 percent of maintenance energy requirements (Farid et al., 1990) and BD; supplementation was 50 percent from each barley and crushed date stones. Both of camel groups B and BD were given Berseem hay ad lib. The results showed that, average body weight changes (ABWC) were almost comparable for the camels fed B and their pair-fed mates offered BD diets (311 vs. 263 g/h/d, respectively) and were higher (P< 0.05) than camels fed diet H (211 g/h/d). Daily total dry matter intake averaged 5.8, 8.56 and 7.49 kg for the three treatments, respectively. Supplementation with high dietary energy sources was significantly (P < 0.05) increased digestibility of DM, OM, EE and NFE but it had no effect on CP and CF digestibility. Total digestible nutrients (TDN %) was significantly (P<0.05) higher for diets BD and B (70.72 vs. 70.02%, respectively) than for diet H (57.86%). But the opposite trend was found for digestible protein percentage. The highest values of nitrogen balance (NB) were obtained when barley grains (as a readily fermentable carbohydrate) represented 50% of the total energy supplement (diet BD) followed by diet B and being low in diet H, the values were 10.0, 10.95 and 7.5 g/d, respectively. Types of energy supplement did not show significant (P< 0.05) effect on all studied blood parameters except glucose and total lipids concentrations.

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he study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of dried Acacia saligna leaves (ALH) on the performance and some blood parameters of pregnant Barki ewes during late pregnancy. Forty ewes aged 3-5 years old at the last third of pregnancy (ten in each group, 38.0±1.2 kg body weight) were fed 0, 20, 40 and 60% of ALH as replacement of berseem hay in a completely randomize design for 75 days. The results showed non-significant differences in daily DM intake and digestibility coefficients of DM, EE, NFE and cellulose. Diets of 40% and 60% ALH showed higher (P<0.05) OM, CF digestibility comparing to 20% ALH and control diets. Diets of 20%, 40% and 60% ALH showed higher (P<0.05) of CP digestibility comparing to control diet. The highest (P<0.05) nitrogen balance was recorded for ewes fed 60% followed by 40% ALH. The incorporation of ALH at levels 20, 40 and 60% resulted in non-significant differences in live body weight at all periods of the late pregnancy. Pregnant ewes fed 60% ALH diet recorded the highest (P<0.05) total body weight gain (Kg) and daily gain (g/day) and the lowest (P<0.05) weight loss at lambing. Birth weight of lambs were not significantly affected. Blood urea concentrations were decreased (P<0.05) with the graded percentage of ALH inclusion. The results of this study revealed that inclusion of dried Acacia saligna leaves up to 60% replacement of dietary berseem hay was better for improving nutrient utilization and ewe's performance during late pregnancy stage.

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