The Utilization of Date Fruit in the Ration to Accelerate Sexual Maturity of the Heifers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adding different levels of date fruit in the ration on accelerated puberty and sexual maturity in Frisian heifers raises in South Iraq. Sixty-four Frisian heifers (4 months-old) were equally allocated to four groups (16 heifers each). All groups were fed the same ration, the first group (T1) was fed without any additive, while the second (T2), third (T3), and fourth (T4) groups were fed 0.5, 1, and 2 kg of date fruits/head/day, respectively in addition to basal ration. Results showed that the percentage of heifers fed 1 and 2 kg of date fruits reached puberty faster than those fed 0 and 0.5kg of date fruits at 6-10 months of age. A similar trend happened in the percentage of heifers that reach sexual maturity at 9-13 months of age. The period of progress in puberty of T4 heifers was three months, based on the world’s average puberty (12 months) and the period of progress in sexual maturity was five months, based on the world’s average maturity (18 months). Results revealed that the dietary addition of date fruits has a significant effect (P≤0.01) on a percentage of advanced puberty in T2, T3, and T4 heifers compared with those receiving control ration (T1). The percentage of sexual maturity in T2, T3, and T4 heifers was higher than those in control one(T1). Furthermore, the heifers in T4 and T3 were higher (P ≤0.01) than heifers in T1 and T2 in the duration of progress in puberty and sexual maturity in heifers.