A.R. Khattab; G. F. Abozed and A. A. Saleh

Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

 

Abstract :

hirty Farafra male lambs, during the growing period, were divided into three equal groups (10 each, average body weight 13.06±0.15 kg). Animals of G1, G2 and G3 (groups) received 0, 5 and 10g chamomile/100kg BW/day; respectively as a feed additive. The obtained results showed that the effect of using chamomile flowers on daily feed intake (g/head) as DM and TDN were highly differing. Also, the values of DM intake (g/kgw^0.75) tended to increase (84.53, 85.42 and 86.44 g/kgw^0.75) with increasing level of chamomile (0, 5 and 10 g/100kg BW) in lambs' rations (G1, G2 and G3; respectively). The digestion coefficients of all nutrients were improved with increasing the level of chamomile in diets. The differences were significant in digestion coefficients of DM, CF, CP and NFE. The highest values of digestibility of all nutrients were recorded with the high level of chamomile. Regarding blood profile, the results indicated that addition of chamomile had positive effect on most blood parameters (hemoglobin, total protein, globulin, glucose and triglyceride). But, serum creatinine, cholesterol and activities of enzymes were higher in control ration compared with the two chamomile groups (G2 and G3). Daily body weight gain records weren't differed significantly between G2 and G3 (229.29 and 233.57 g/d) while both were significantly higher than G1 (211.90 g/d). Moreover, some positive effects were observed on testes volume and testes circumference as a result of adding chamomile to lambs' ration. Accordingly, it could be concluded that using chamomile in rations of Farafra sheep has positive effects not only on improving digestion coefficients, but also on improving growth performance, economic efficiency and puberty without any adverse effects on blood metabolic parameters.

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