Effect of feeding Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. on goats stabled during late pregnancy and lactation

Abstract

Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. forage is an alternative feed supply for goats during dry periods It was used as feed during pregnancy and lactation to evaluate production response and some blood parameters. Six animals in each group were fed with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of acacia as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay replacement in a completely randomized design. Forage chemical analysis was done to calculate nutrient intake. Blood samples were analyzed for albumin, urea N, globulin, total protein, Ca, and P. Productive parameters were analyzed by ANOVA, Duncan, and regression analyses between acacia and dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), metabolizable energy (ME), and milk production. Acacia consumption during pregnancy was 65.5% of control, affected by the consumption of CP, ME intake and body condition (P < 0.01). Body weight showed no change and 25.9% was the inflection point of the response curve. Birth weight was different for 100% acacia in the diet (P < 0.05). In lactation DM, CP, and ME intake increased (P < 0.01). Body weight and body conditions decreased for groups with 50% and 25% acacia. Only urea N and albumin were affected by inclusion of acacia. Milk production decreased (P < 0.01) with over 50% acacia. Milk production was 160.2, 163.4, 128.2, 125.9, and 66.5 L for 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of acacia, respectively. Goat diets should not include more than 25% acacia forage during pregnancy and lactation.

Effect of Feeding Graded Levels of Dried Acacia Saligna Leaves During Late Pregnancy on Ewes Performance and Lambs Birth Weight

“…However, it was observed that pregnant ewes fed 40% ALH diet recorded the same total body weight gain and ADG that were recorded by those fed control, and slightly lower than those fed 40% ALH diet. The present results are in good agreement with those of Meneses, et al, (2012) who reported that when goats in late pregnancy fed alfalfa hay diet (control) and replacement Acacia hay instead of alfalfa hay by 25, 50, 75 and 100% diets, the body weight changes did not show a significant differences (P0>0.05) among treatments . They illustrated that CP and ME intake during the experimental treatments was probably not sufficient to establish significant responses during the last third period of pregnancy.…”

“…The present results of DM intake are in a good agreement with those obtained by Meneses, et al (2012). They studied the effect of using Acacia saligna (Labill.)…”

“…These studies have demonstrated an overall improvement of N utilization. Also, at the same trend Maamouri et al (2011) and Meneses et al (2012) indicated that blood urea and urinary N loss were decreased (P<0.05) when sheep and goats were fed legumes that contained tannins. Generally, the values obtained of blood constituents indicated normal physiological and healthy status of ewes fed the experimental diets.…”

Effect of Acacia Saligna Levels on Lactating Barki Ewes Performance

“…At the same trend, Meneses et al, (2012) fed lactating ewes on 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of Acacia as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay replacement in a completely randomized design. They found that DM, CP, and ME intake were increased (P < 0.01) in the lactation stage over the control with a high percentage of Acacia in the diet, which differed from the results during pregnancy.…”

“…On the contrary, Meneses et al (2012) used goats on 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of Acacia as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay replacement. The milk production for 0 and 25% treatments were the same but different from those for the other treatments, which were 160.…”