The effect of supplement enzyme mixture on productive performance of ewes and their lamb

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of supplement of Exogenous enzymes mixture for local ewes and rams on nutrient digestibility coefficients, rumen fermentation parameter, milk production, some blood metabolites, and lambs' performance. Twenty-one pregnant ewes during the last two months of pregnancy randomly distributed into three different groups (seven animals each), depending on their mean live body weight and season of production. The 1 st group was a control or basal diet without enzyme supplement, the 2 nd (T1) and 3 rd (T2) groups were fed a basal diet with a supplement of 30 and 60 g enzymes mixture /100 kg concentrate feed mixture (CFM), respectively. The experimental period lasted for three months after lambing. Results showed that the enzyme mixture supplementation did not affect the digestibility and nutritional values of diets. The mean milk yield during the lactation period was higher (P<0.05) in T1 than in other groups. Milk fat was higher (P< 0.05) with T1 than with T2. Ruminal total volatile fatty acids (TVFA's) were higher in T1 than in T2 and the controls. Also, the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) was higher (P<0.05) in the treated groups than control animals. The total protein and globulin were increased (P<0.05) in (T1) compared with T2 and control groups. The average daily gain of lambs was (P< 0.05) greater in T1 than in the control group. It could be concluded that supplement of enzymes mixture to ewes' diet during the last two months of pregnancy and lactating period, particularly at a rate of 30g/100 kg of CFM improved milk yield, milk fat, some blood metabolites, rumen fermentation, and the weight of newborn lambs at weaning.