Utilization of blue panic (Panicum antidotale) as an alternative feed resource for feeding Barky sheep in arid regions

المجلة: Tropical Animal Health and Production

سنة النشر: 2019

تاريخ النشر: 2019-11-12

This study aimed at elucidating effects of replacing sorghum with blue panic (BP) on total dry matter intake (TDMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), apparent nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical constituents, rumen fermentation patterns and economic feasibility of Barky male lambs. Fifteen lambs (av. BW, 22.5 ± 1.6 kg) were randomly allotted into 3 treatments (n = 5/group). Control lambs were given a diet of concentrate mixture (CM) plus sorghum (S), BP50% lambs were given a diet of CM plus (S: PB 1:1) and BP100% lambs were given CM plus PB. The experiment lasted for 54 days. At the last week of the experiment, the apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients were determined using lignin contents of feeds and faeces as an internal marker. Blood samples were collected at weeks 3, 5 and 7 to determine serum biochemical parameters. Results showed that TDMI significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by diet, whereas ADG was not affected. Mean FCR values were 5.67, 5.46 and 5.86 for control, BP50% and BP100%, respectively. Neither nutrients digestibility nor ruminal fermentation parameters were affected (P > 0.05) by total replacement of sorghum with BP. Likewise, none of the serum biochemical constituents were different in BP than in control lambs. This study concluded that BP grass would be considered as one of the promising tropical green forages in the arid regions as an alternative feedstuff in case of shortage of green fodders.

Comparison of dietary supplementation of sodium selenite and bio-nanostructured selenium on nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, antioxidant status, milk production, and lamb performance of Barki ewes

المجلة: Animal Feed Science and Technology

سنة النشر: 2023

تاريخ النشر: 2023-03-08

Selenium (Se) supplementation during early lactation can affect not only the ewe's health and milk production but also their lamb performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of two different forms of selenium [inorganic form as sodium selenite (SS), and bio-nanostructured selenium (SeNSM)] on ewes nutrient digestibility, milk yield, milk composition, blood biochemical parameters, and their lambs' growth performance. Twenty-one Barki ewes [32.72 ± 0.84 kg initial body weight (BW), 14 ± 7 days in milk] were assigned according to BW and milk yield from the previous lactation period into three experimental groups (n = 7 ewes/ group) for a period of 50 days. The control group fed the basal diet without Se addition, the SS group fed the basal diet supplemented with SS at 1.2 mg/ kg dry matter (DM), and the SeNSM group fed the basal diet supplemented with SeNSM at 1.2 mg/ kg DM. Supplementation of SeNSM improved (P = 0.053) neutral detergent fiber digestibility compared to the control. No differences were found among the treatments on blood metabolites, however, both Se forms tended to increase (P < 0.01) the blood Se concentration compared to the control. Ewes fed SeNSM had higher (P < 0.05) blood Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, milk yield, fat-corrected milk, milk fat, protein, lactose, and ash yields, and milk Se than ewes fed the control diet. The lambs of ewes fed SeNSM had higher (P = 0.03) BW gains compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the Se of SeNSM form was more effective than SS in improving the productive performance of both ewes and their lambs.

Response of rumen fermentation and microbiota to dietary supplementation of sodium selenite and bio-nanostructured selenium in lactating Barki sheep

المجلة: BMC Veterinary Research

سنة النشر: 2023

تاريخ النشر: 2023-11-27

Dietary selenium (Se) sources affects the structure of the rumen microbial community and rumen fermentation. This study evaluated the effects of sodium selenite (SS) and bio-nanostructured selenium (SeNSM) on rumen fermentation and structure of rumen microbial community of lactating Barki ewes. Twenty one lactating Barki ewes were assigned into three groups based on their body weight and milk yield. The experiment lasted for 50 days, whenever, the control group was fed basal diet; group SS received basal diets plus sodium selenite as inorganic source of Se; and group SeNSM received basal diet plus organic selenium bio-nanostructured. Ruminal pH and volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) was lower (P < 0.05) in SeNSM group compared to control. Principle Coordinate Analysis separated the microbial communities into three clusters based on feeding treatment. The bacterial community was dominated by phylum Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes that were affected (P < 0.05) by Se sources. Specifically Bacteriodetes was higher (P < 0.05) in SS and SeNSM groups; and Firmicutes was higher (P < 0.05) in the control group. Moreover, the predominant bacterial genera were Prevotella, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Unclassified_Bacteroidales, which were higher (P < 0.05) in SeNSM group. The methanogenic community belonged to phylum Euryarchaeota and was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) by Se supplementation. Principal component analysis based on rumen fermentation parameters, and relative abundances of bacteria and methanogens revealed three distinct clusters. These findings suggest that Se supplementation affected the relative abundances of dominant bacterial groups, declined rumen methanogens and SeNSM supplementation showed some positive impacts on some fibrolytic bacteria.