Productive and Reproductive Traits of Sheep Fed Acacia saligna Leaves-Based Diets (original) (raw)
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Chilean journal of agricultural research, 2012
Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L. Wendl. forage is an alternative feed supply for goats during dry periods It was used as feed during pregnancy and lactation to evaluate production response and some blood parameters. Six animals in each group were fed with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of acacia as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay replacement in a completely randomized design. Forage chemical analysis was done to calculate nutrient intake. Blood samples were analyzed for albumin, urea N, globulin, total protein, Ca, and P. Productive parameters were analyzed by ANOVA, Duncan, and regression analyses between acacia and dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), metabolizable energy (ME), and milk production. Acacia consumption during pregnancy was 65.5% of control, affected by the consumption of CP, ME intake and body condition (P < 0.01). Body weight showed no change and 25.9% was the inflection point of the response curve. Birth weight was different for 100% acacia in the diet (P < 0.05). In lactation DM, CP, and ME intake increased (P < 0.01). Body weight and body conditions decreased for groups with 50% and 25% acacia. Only urea N and albumin were affected by inclusion of acacia. Milk production decreased (P < 0.01) with over 50% acacia. Milk production was 160.2, 163.4, 128.2, 125.9, and 66.5 L for 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of acacia, respectively. Goat diets should not include more than 25% acacia forage during pregnancy and lactation.
Livestock Science, 2011
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of natural protection of protein from microbial degradation in the rumen by acacia tannins on digestibility, nitrogen (N) retention and milk production in dairy ewes. An experimental sheep flock grazing rye grass pasture was divided into four groups. Indoor, animals were supplemented with 300 g of concentrate, 300 g of concentrate + 100 g Acacia cyanophylla foliage (acacia), 300 g of concentrate + 200 g acacia for C, C1A, C2A groups, respectively, and only 100 g of acacia for group A. Digestibility and N balance were measured for animals in metabolic cages fed with cut fresh grass. Acacia tannins interact with concentrate supply and significantly affected digestibility. Higher OM and CP digestibility was observed for C1A and C2A groups in comparison with the A group. Digestibility of OM, NDF and CP was higher for animals supplemented with concentrate than for those not supplemented. N retention increased with ration CP content. Acacia tannins led to a high increase of N retention for C1A and C2A groups compared to C group (10.3 vs. 5.8 g/day for animals fed acacia and those not fed acacia, respectively). So, urinary nitrogen excretion decreased from 6.5 g/day for C group to 4.5 g/day for C1A. Milk yield was the highest for C1A group (555 ml/day) and the lowest for A group (500 ml/day) whereas it was intermediate for other groups. Milk fat content decreased with groups fed acacia in comparison to groups not fed acacia (7.3 vs. 7.6%). Milk protein content decreased when ewes received acacia and concentrate.
Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds, 2018
he study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of dried Acacia saligna leaves (ALH) on the performance and some blood parameters of pregnant Barki ewes during late pregnancy. Forty ewes aged 3-5 years old at the last third of pregnancy (ten in each group, 38.0±1.2 kg body weight) were fed 0, 20, 40 and 60% of ALH as replacement of berseem hay in a completely randomize design for 75 days. The results showed non-significant differences in daily DM intake and digestibility coefficients of DM, EE, NFE and cellulose. Diets of 40% and 60% ALH showed higher (P<0.05) OM, CF digestibility comparing to 20% ALH and control diets. Diets of 20%, 40% and 60% ALH showed higher (P<0.05) of CP digestibility comparing to control diet. The highest (P<0.05) nitrogen balance was recorded for ewes fed 60% followed by 40% ALH. The incorporation of ALH at levels 20, 40 and 60% resulted in non-significant differences in live body weight at all periods of the late pregnancy. Pregnant ewes fed 60% ALH diet recorded the highest (P<0.05) total body weight gain (Kg) and daily gain (g/day) and the lowest (P<0.05) weight loss at lambing. Birth weight of lambs were not significantly affected. Blood urea concentrations were decreased (P<0.05) with the graded percentage of ALH inclusion. The results of this study revealed that inclusion of dried Acacia saligna leaves up to 60% replacement of dietary berseem hay was better for improving nutrient utilization and ewe's performance during late pregnancy stage.
A trial on Acacia albida leaf supplementation on reproductive parameters and pre-weaning growth of Arabian lambs was conducted from September 2020 to May 2021 at the small ruminant station of the Livestock Research Institute for Development (IRED) in N'Djamena, Chad. Forty-eight (48) Arabian sheep (45 non-pregnant females and 3 males for a sex ratio of 1 ram to 15 ewes) with an average weight of 20.3 ± 1.2 kg and aged approximately 2 years were divided into 3 groups of 15 ewes each. The supplemented group received How to cite this paper:
The Effects of Feeding Acacia saligna on Feed Intake, Nitrogen Balance and Rumen Metabolism in Sheep
Asian-australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2007
The aim of this study was to determine the feeding value to sheep of Acacia saligna grown under temperate conditions. Pen trials were undertaken to determine the effects of feeding A. saligna, which had been grown in a Mediterranean environment, on feed intake, nitrogen balance and rumen metabolism in sheep. Sheep were given ad libitum access to A. saligna with or without supplementation with PEG 4,000 or PEG 6,000. PEG 4000 appears to be the major detannification agent used in trials involving high tannin feed despite the fact that PEG 6000 has been shown to be more effective, in vitro. For this reason it was of interest to compare the two, in vivo. Dry matter intake was greater (p<0.05) in sheep supplemented with either PEG 4,000 or PEG 6,000 compared to the control. There was no difference, however, in intake between those supplemented with either PEG 4,000 or 6,000. Although animals were not weighed throughout the trial, a loss in body condition was obvious, in particular in the control group. Intake of N was greater (p<0.05) in sheep supplemented with either PEG 4,000 or PEG 6,000 than in the control. There was no difference in N intake between those supplemented with either PEG 4,000 or PEG 6,000. There were no significant differences in either the faecal or urinary N output between any of the treatment groups and all treatment groups were in negative N balance. Neither the average nor maximum pH of ruminal fluid of the control group was different to those supplemented with PEG. The minimum pH for the control group, however, was significantly higher (p<0.05) than for either of the PEG treatments. The average and the maximum ammonia levels were lower (p<0.05) in the control group compared with those in either of the PEG treatment groups. For all dietary treatments ruminal ammonia levels were well below the threshold for maximal microbial growth. Feeding A. saligna, without PEG, had a definite defaunating effect on the rumen. For all dietary treatments ruminal ammonia levels were well below the threshold for maximal microbial growth. It was concluded that A. saligna was inadequate as the sole source of nutrients for sheep, even with the addition of PEG 4,000 or PEG 6,000. The anti-nutritional effects on the animals were largely attributed to the excessive biological activity of the phenolics in the A. saligna leaves. There is a need to determine other supplements that may be complimentary with PEG to enhance the nutritive value of A. saligna to maintain a minimum of animal maintenance.
Effect of Acacia Saligna Levels on Lactating Barki Ewes Performance
Egyptian Journal of Nutrition and Feeds, 2017
his study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of Acacia saligna leaves hay (ALH) on dry matter intake, milk yield, composition and lambs growth rate from birth to weaning. Forty Barki ewes at the start of lactation stage averaged 3-5 years old with an average live body weight 38.8±1.6 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments groups (ten ewes per group), were fed with 0, 20, 40 and 60% of ALH as berseem hay replacement. The experiment lasted 16 weeks and showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in daily dry matter intake ewes body weight change, milk yield and compositions and lambs daily gain during lactation season due to the supplementation of lactating ewes with graded levels of ALH compared with control treatment. Milk yield values were 24.1, 23.9, 24.2 and 24.3 g/d and ADG values were 147.3, 145.5, 152.7 and 150.9 g/d for control, 20, 40 and 60% ALH, respectively. It may be concluded that A. saligna leaves hay can be used as alternative feed sources for lactating ewes.
Research article, 2009
The study was undertaken to determine the effects of different forms of Acacia saligna leaves inclusion on feed intake, digestibility and body weight gain in lambs fed grass hay basal diet. Twenty local 'Farta' yearling male lambs weighing 17.4 ± 0.10 kg (mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments consisting of daily feeding of lambs in T1 with 700 g grass hay (dry matter basis), and daily free choice feeding of lambs in T2, T3, and T4 with 700 g grass hay + 700 g fresh, wilted, and dried A. saligna leaves, respectively. Inclusion of different forms of A. saligna leaves improved (P<0.01) the daily intake of total DM by 8-9% and that of OM and CP by 7 and 38%, respectively compared to the control. The daily intake of NDFom was lower (P<0.01) by 1-2.3%, whereas that of the ADFom intake declined (P<0.01) by 1.3-3.4% for lambs on wilted and dried forms of A. saligna leaves. Inclusion of A. saligna leaves replaced the intake of the grass hay by 26-27% of the total diet and reduced (P<0.05) apparent digestibility coefficient of the total DM by 9, 7, and 4%, OM by 7, 6 and 4%, and CP by 12, 12, and 9%, but improved (P<0.05) apparent digestibility coefficient of NDFom by 3-4% compared to the control diet. Dried A. saligna leaves improved (P<0.05) apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP compared to fresh A. saligna leaves. Lambs fed on hay alone lost (P<0.05) body weight, while the Abbreviations: abs, absorbance; ADBLI, average daily body length increment; ADFom, acid detergent fibre; Lignin(sa), acid detergent lignin; ADHGI, average daily heart girth increment; ADSCI, average daily scrotal circumstance increment; ADWG, average daily weight gain; CT, condensed tannins; DM, dry matter; DMI, dry matter intake; DOMI, digestible organic matter intake; N, nitrogen; NDFom, neutral detergent fibre; OM, organic matter; SEM, standard error of the mean; Signif., significance. lambs supplemented with A. saligna leaves gained (P<0.05) weight. The results of this study revealed that A. saligna leaves could be best included in the grass hay based feeding in dried form at the rate of 265 g/kg DM for improved nutrient utilization and growth performance of yearling lambs.
Animal Science, 1998
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of adding polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000), sodium bentonite to Acacia saligna hay as a roughage in the diet to deactivate it's content of tannins. Twenty healthy growing Barki lambs averaged of 30.90±4.63 Kg body weight were randomly divided into four groups (five animals of each) in fattening trial lasted for 180 days. Nutrients digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood serum metabolites, rumen parameters, weight changes and average daily gain (ADG) were determined. Animal groups were fed on concentrate feed mixture (CFM)+ berseem hay (G1), CFM + acacia hay (G2), G2 diet + 5% PEG (G3) and G2 diet + 4% bentonite (G4). Results revealed that group one had higher values of digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE than the other groups. All animals were in positive nitrogen balance (from 3.99 to 12.13 g/h/d). The highest amount of nitrogen was in G1 and the lowest was G2. Ruminal total volatile fatty acids (TVFA's) and ammonia-nitrogen were increased to reach the peak value at 3hr post feeding. All serum blood metabolites were in normal ranges. Total dry matter intake was 1.69, 1.25, 1.39 and 1.42 Kg, for the experimental groups, respectively. Average daily gain was 149.22, 67.22, 79.32 and 78.00g/d for the experimental groups, respectively. Finally, G1 recorded the best digestibility coefficients, nitrogen balance, total dry matter intake, total digestible nutrients (TDN), digestible crude protein (DCP), ADG with normal blood parameters compared with the others. However, Adding PEG and sodium bentonite to Acacia diet could be used to increase feed intake utilization as result of tannins deactivation.