The Biological and Economical Feasibility of Feeding Barley Green Fodder to Lactating Awassi Ewes

The objective of this research was to investigate the biological and economical values of hydroponic barley (HB) on lactating Awassi ewes. A total of 48 lactating ewes were used in a feeding trial in two groups. The first was fed a regular lactation TMR ration while ewes in the second treatment were fed similar ration except that regular wheat hay was totally replaced by HB for 120 days feeding trial. Results of the experiment showed that the green fodder yield in 8 days germination cycle was 7.5 kg per 1 kg barley grains of green fodder. HB had no effects on feed intake (FI), body weight changes, milk yield, and milk composition;however, HB had positive effects on ewe’s health conditions, mortalities, conception rates and abortion. In conclusion, HB can be used as feed for lactating sheep as cost of feed can be reduced by 42%.

Effects of Guar (<i>Cyamopsis tetragonoloba</i>) Residues on the Performance and Nutrients Digestibility in Finishing Awassi Lambs

The nutritive quality of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) residues (GR) was investigated and the effects of partial replacement of wheat straw by GR on nutrients intake, digestibility, and growth performance. Twenty four male lambs, with average body weight (BW) of 40.3 ± 2.5 kg were divided into three groups. Lambs were fed individually for 104 days with concentrate mixture (18% crude protein) and wheat straw as a total mixed ration. Wheat straw was replaced with 0, 100 and 145 g/kg dry matter guar residues. All rations were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The fattening trial lasted 104 days. At the end of week 10 of the trail, a digestion trial was performed using six lambs from each group. The composition of nutrients in the GR was 87%, 8.5%, 56.4% and 40.1% for DM, CP, NDF and ADF, respectively. DM and crude protein (CP) intake were not affected by the inclusion of GR. However, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) intake were lower in lambs fed GR compared to control lambs. At the end of the experiment, lambs fed 100 and 145 g GR/kg DM diets gained more weight (P < 0.05) than those fed the control diet. The same trend was found for feed conversion (CR). Results from this work suggested that GR had advantages compared to regular roughage (wheat straw) in regard to parameters investigated as well as the significant reduction in fattening diets cost.

Activity of transaminase enzyme and testosterone hormone in blood of Awassi rams during different season

Objective:To monitor the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) enzymes and testosterone hormone in months and seasons of Iraq.Methods: In this experiment, 20 (2.0-3.5 years old) Iraqi Awassi rams were used which were housed in semi opened shade. Blood samples (2-3 mL) were collected once a week for over period 12 mo. AST and ALT activities were measured by using colorimetric method, and testesterone analysis was performed with an automatic analyzer.Results: The activities of both AST and ALT enzymes were increased significantly (P<0.05) during summer, on monthly basis, June showed the significantly highest value (P<0.05). The present study revealed that testosterone in autumn and summer was recorded significantly highest (P<0.05) in comparison with other seasons and on monthly basis the significant (P<0.05) highest level of testosterone was found between September and August months.Conclusions: AST and ALT enzymes are the highest during summer, and on monthly basis they are the highest in June, while testosterone level is recorded highest in autumn season, and on monthly basis November shows the highest value.