Hosam H. Titi

Effect of protected methionine supplementation on milk production and reproduction in first calf heifers

Abstract. Sixty Holstein heifers (30 days in milk) were used to examine the effects of protected methionine on milk production, milk composition and reproduction performance up to 100 days post-partum. Heifers were randomly divided into two dietary treatment groups (30 each) receiving either 14 or 16 % crude protein. Heifers of each treatment group were assigned into three subgroups with a daily supplementation of 0, 15 or 25 g/hd/d of rumen protected methionine. Diet fed was a total mixed ration consisting of fresh alfalfa, corn silage and a concentrate mixture. In addition, alfalfa hay was offered ad libitum during the whole experimental period.

Performance of Nursing Awassi Ewes Fed Different Levels of Bread By-product

Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of barley grain with bread by-product (BB) on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs. Forty Awassi ewes rearing single lambs were randomly allotted into four experimental diets containing various levels of BB. The experimental diets contained 0 (BB0), 10 (BB10), 15 (BB15), and 20% (BB20) of BB on dietary dry matter (DM). The study lasted for eight weeks, in which the first week was used as an adaptation period and seven weeks of data collection. Ewes and their lambs were penned individually where they were fed their lactating diets ad libitum. Ewes and lambs body weights were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. However, milk production and composition were evaluated biweekly. Feeding BB had no effect (p>0.05) on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) intakes. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was the lowest (p<0.05) for the BB20 and BB15 diets followed to BB10 diet (i.e., 640, 677, 772 g/d, respectively) while the highest NDF intake was for the BB0 diet (i.e., 825 g/d). Similarly, NDF intake decreased linearly (p<0.001) as the BB content increased. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was highest (p<0.05) for the BB0 and BB10 diets (425 and 416 g/d, respectively) followed by the BB15 and BB20 diets (359 and 342 g/d, respectively). Moreover, a linear (p<0.001), quadratic (p = 0.04), and cubic (p = 0.04) effects were observed in ADF intake among diets. Nutrient digestibility was similar among different diets. Bread by-product had no effect (p>0.05) on ewes body weight change and on lamb performance (i.e., weaning body weight and average daily gain). Similarly, no differences (p>0.05) were observed either in milk production or composition by the BB substitution. Inclusion of BB reduced feed cost by 9, 14, and 18% for the BB10, BB15, and BB20 diets, respectively. No differences were observed in milk efficiency (DM intake: milk production; p>0.05) among diets. However, cost of milk production (

Reproductive performance of seasonal ewes fed dry fat source during their breeding season

US/kg milk) was the lowest (p<0.05) in the diet containing BB20. Results of the present study indicate that feeding bread by-product up to 20% of the diet DM had no effect on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs and reduced feed cost.

Effect of supplementation with vegetable oil on performance of lactating Awassi ewes, growth of their lambs and on fatty acid profile of milk and blood of lambs

Abstract This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dry fat inclusion in the diet on reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. Seventy‐five dry Awassi ewes, 3–4 years of age, were selected and divided randomly into three groups of 25 females each in a completely randomised design. Treatment started 45 days before mating using one of three totally mixed rations (TMR) containing 0, 3, or 5% dry fat. Ewes were oestrally synchronised before mating and blood samples were collected to determine serum progesterone concentrations. Adding dry fat to diets did not increase plasm a progesterone concentrations, with no differences between both levels of the added fat also. The overall conception rate for the first cycle was reduced (P < 0.05) following the addition of dry fat. However, 5% supplemental fat increased (P < 0.05) the second and third cycle conception rates. The gestation length was increased (P < 0.05) by increasing the level of fat in the diet. A 3% level of dry fat had no effect on litter size, twining rate or lambs’ birth weight. However, feeding 5% supplemental fat adversely (P < 0.05) affected these parameters. Based on these results, it appears that adding dry fat to Awassi ewes’ diets does not improve reproductive performance.

Effect of rumen-protected methionine on production and composition of early lactating Shami goats milk and growth performance of their kids

Abstract. The present study investigated the effects of supplementing soybean oil (SBO) and sunflower oil (SFO) on the performance of early lactating Awassi ewes, growth of their sucking lambs and on the concentration of total fatty acids in milk and blood of suckling lambs. One hundred and twenty five ewes were randomly assigned into five equal sized treatment groups involved; a control total mixed ration (TMR) without added oil and four diets supplemented with 3 % SBO, 5 % SBO, 3 % SFO or 5 % SFO.

The effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on intake, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fluid pH in Awassi female lambs

Abstract. This study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Jordan in the Jordan valley to evaluate the effect of supplementing rumen-protected methionine to early lactating Shami goats on milk production, composition, fatty acid profile, and growth performance of their kids. Twenty-four fresh lactating Shami goats were randomly assigned into three dietary treatment groups (eight each) in a completely randomized design. Diets were a control with no supplements or supplemented with either 2.5, or 5.0 g/head/d rumenprotected methionine. The experiment started exactly after kidding and lasted for 60 days thereafter. Production variables studied were milk production, milk composition, body weights, feed intake, kids weaning weight, and milk fatty acids. Daily milk production and energy corrected milk were not affected by protected me thionine supplementation. Milk Percentages of fat, protein, total solids, and casein were also not affected by protected methionine supplementation. Likewise, fat and protein yields were not different among dietary treatments of protected methionine. No differences in milk fatty acids composition were observed by supplementing rumen protected methionine in the experiment. Feed intake, feed to milk ratio, and final body weight of dams were not changed among treatments. No differences were observed in weaning weights, average daily gain, and milk to gain ratio of kids born to dams in the experiment regardless to sex of kids. In conclusion, results indicated that supplementing rumen protected methionine to dairy goats diet did not improve their milking performance, the composition of their milk, or growth performance of their kids.

Performance and carcass characteristics of intact and castrated male Black goat kids fed diets of various energy levels

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding low (LO)- or high (HI)-fiber diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) on nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, rumen fluid pH, and serum concentrations of glucose and urea nitrogen in Awassi female lambs in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Materials and Methods: Experimental diets were as follows: (1) LO-fiber diet with no SC supplementation (−LO), (2) LO-fiber diet supplemented with SC (+LO), (3) HI-fiber diet with no SC supplementation (−HI), or (4) HI-fiber diet supplemented with SC (+HI). Eight female lambs were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design with 15-day experimental periods (10-day adaptation period and 5-day collection period). Results: A fiber×SC interaction (p≤0.05) was detected for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intake among diets showing greater DM and CP intake for +LO diet compared to +HI group supplemented with SC, whereas −LO and −HI were intermediate. A fiber×SC interaction (p=0.05) was also detected for the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake among diets. Intake of NDF was greater for the –HI diet compared with +LO and –LO diets. Similarly, NDF intake was greater for +HI diet than –LO diet. A tendency (p=0.07) for a fiber×SC interaction was detected for acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake among diets as well. ADF intake tended to be greater for HI-fiber diets. No difference was observed in the rumen fluid pH for lambs fed with the different diets. No fiber×SC interactions were detected for the digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF among dietary treatments. Digestibility of DM was greater (72.9 g/100 g vs. 67.1 g/100 g; p=0.0002) for LO versus HI fiber. However, NDF and ADF digestibilities were greater (60.8 and 61.9 g/100 g vs. 55.8 and 52.7 g/100 g for NDF and ADF digestibility, respectively; p≤0.01) for the HI-fiber than the LO-fiber diets. Conclusion: Results obtained in the current study indicate that SC supplementation has a minimal effect on the performance of Awassi female lambs fed with varying fiber levels.

Effect of bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) seeds as a replacement protein source of soybean meal on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing Awassi lambs

Thirty Black goat male kids were used in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effects of three dietary energy levels (EL) and early castration (TRT) on growth performance, body and carcass characteristics. Upon weaning at 90 days of age, kids were randomly divided into three equal groups (n = 10: five intact and five castrated) and assigned to one of the three dietary treatments containing 15% CP and different energy levels: low (LEL; 10.44 MJ ME/kg DM), medium (MEL; 11.60 MJ ME/kg DM) and high energy (HEL; 12.90 MJ ME/kg DM). Kids were individually fed on an ad libitum basis and were slaughtered at the end of the fattening period. Results showed no differences between castrated and intact kids in feed and nutrient intake. The level of dietary energy affected dry matter intake (P < 0.05), metabolisable energy intake (P < 0.01), crude protein intake (P < 0.05), neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre intakes (P < 0.001). Dry matter intake was 280, 305 and 264 g/kg W0.75.day for kids receiving LEL, MEL and HEL diets, respectively. Metabolisable energy intake was the highest for kids receiving the MEL diet (0.90 Mcal/kg W0.75.day) compared with LEL (0.73 Mcal/ kg W0.75.day) and HEL (0.88 Mcal/kg W0.75.day) diets. Final liveweight and average daily gain (ADG) were greater (P < 0.01) in MEL diets. Kids fed MEL gained 133 g/day, while ADG values were 92 and 100 g/day for kids fed LEL and HEL diets, respectively. Total muscle percentage was greater (P < 0.05) for kids fed MEL diets (55.9%) compared with LEL (53.8%) and HEL (51.1%) diets. Castrated kids had lower (P < 0.01) carcass muscle percentage, but higher carcass (P < 0.01) and subcutaneous (P < 0.001) fat percentages than intact kids. It can be concluded that the best growth performance was observed in kids receiving the MEL with no differences between castrated and intact kids. Castration influenced accretion of fat in castrated kids.