Effect of Feeding Different Percentages of Acacia saligna Foliage Hay on Barki Ewes Performance

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing berseem hay (BH) with dried Acacia saligna foliage (AFH) on the performance and some blood parameters of pregnant Barki ewes. Thirty-Two aged 2-3 years old at the last third of pregnancy (eight in each group, 40.5 ± 0.96 Kg body weight) were fed 0 (Control), 25, 50 and 75% of AFH in replacement of BH. All animals fed 2% of their body weight concentrate feed mixture and ad libitum quantities of BH or AFH forages for 84 days. Average daily change in body weight of ewesduring lactation, milk yield and composition, rumen liquor parameters (pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N and protozoa count), lamb’s growth performance and some serum biochemical parameters weredetermined.Economic evaluation for the tested levels of forages was also estimated. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS computer program software utilizing the general linear model (GLM) procedure. The findings revealed that while AFH had greater neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) andcrude proteins (CP) values than BH, it had lower amounts of dry matter (DM), crude fiber (CF), ether extracts (EE) and fiber fractions. Total DM intake (g/h/day or g/Kg W ) of lactating ewes did not influence significantly by AFH 0.75 replacement in the diets. The replacement of BH with AFH at the rate of 75% resulted in increasing (P<0.05) individual (Acetic, butyric and propionic) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations compared with the control treatment. The tested incorporation levels of AFH did not influence the live body weight during the lactation period. Neglecting the lamb's sex, the tested levels of AFH had noeffect onbirth weight and body weight changes from birth till weaning. Ewes fed 75% AFH recorded the highest total milk yield and daily milk yield compared to the other tested diets.Treatmentsaffects insignificantlyfat and protein yields. Moreover, no significant effect noticed among the experimental groups in serum biochemical tested parameters. Ewes fed ration containing 75% AFH recorded the best economic efficiency compared to other tested rations.