Effect of Zeolite Addition on Physiological, Immunological, Reproductive and Productive Performance of Barki Ewes Under Water Salinity Stress in South Sinai, Egypt تأثير إضافة الزيوليت علي الأداء الفسيولوجى، المناعي، التناسلى والإنتاجى للنعاج البرقى تحت إجهاد ملوحة ماء الشرب فى جنوب سيناء

Abstract

Sixty Barki ewes (2.0-3.0 years old and 30.5 ± 1.3 kg ABW) were used to evaluate the effects of zeolite addition on physiological, immunological, reproductive and productive performance under water salinity stress, were randomly assigned into three equal groups (20 ewes / group). (G1, control group); ewes drank fresh (FW) tap water (274 ppm TDS), (G2), ewes drank saline (SW) well water (5980 ppm TDS), both fed the basal diet and (G3), ewes drank SW (5980 ppm TDS) and fed the basal diet supplemented with 60 g zeolite /kg diet (6 %). Fresh and saline water were always available. Results indicated that, total proteins and immunoglobulins were increased in G3 compared with G2. T3 hormone concentration was higher (P˂0.05) in G3 by 43.56 and 20.83 % as compared to G2 and G1, respectively. However, G2 recorded insignificant decrease in T4 hormone concentration by 9.48 and 21.64 % as compared to G3 and G1, respectively. Number of weaned lambs increased in G3 than that in G2 (18 vs.14 lamb), respectively. Milk yield negatively affected by 12.1% in SW groups (561 vs. 638 ml/h/d, P<0.05), compared to G1. Meanwhile, G3 had slightly improved milk yield by 1.4 % (647 vs. 638 ml/h/d). Lambs average daily gain were significantly higher in G3 and G1 as compared to G2. Addition of 6 % zeolite to the diets of Barki ewes could reduce the negative effect of drinking saline water without any adverse effects on Barki ewes performance under arid conditions of Egypt.