Influence of diets supplemented with fish oil on nutrients digestibility, some rumen parameters, blood constituents, productive and reproductive performance of ewes [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of feeding diets supplemented with fish oil on nutrients digestibility, feeding values of tested diets, some rumen parameters, productive and reproductive perfomance of ewes during late pregnancy. Fourty two mature ewes (1/2 Finish Landrace x 1/2 Rahmani) were divided into similar three groups (control, G2 and G3), according to their live body weight (53.2±1.95 kg) and reproductive history. The first group was fed a basal (control) diet consisting of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus berseem (Trifolium a/exandrinum, 3r̲d̲cut), while in G2 and G3 fish oil was added at the rate of 2% (diet 2) and 4% (diet 3) of OM intake, respectively.. Besides three digestion trials were conducted on mature rams to evaluate the nutritive values of tested- diets. The main results showed that the highest total OM intake (P<O.05) and DCP g/kg W⁰̇̇·⁷⁵ were noticed by the control group followed by those fed the two levels of fish oil. Highest (P<O.05) OM, OM, EE and NFE digestibility coefficients were obtained by rams in G3, however, the lowest (P<O.05) values were with the control group, which had the highest (P<O.05) CP and CF digestibilities. The digestibilities of NDF and ADF were tented to be lower (P<O.05) with G2 and G3 than the control one. Diet 2 and diet 3 recorded higher (P<O.05) TON value (%) than the control one, while the DCP value (%)was lower (P<O.05) with diet 2 and diet 3 than the control .Ruminal pH value, Propionate, Valerate and Iso-valeric proportions were tended to be gradually increased (P<O.05) with the increasing fish oil level. While, the reverse trend was true in case of NH3-N, total VFA's, acetate, butyrate concentrations and A/P ratio since they were gradually decreased (P<O.05) with increasing fish oil level. Body weight of ewes was tended to be gradually increased (P<O.05)with increasing fish oil level. Highest (P<O.05) percentage of milk fat, protein, total solids and solids not fat were shown by control group. While, the yields of fat, protein, total solids and solids not fat were tended to be gradually increased (P<O.05) with increasing fish oil level. Feed efficiency was higher in G2 and G3 than control one. Feed conversion was tended to be deceased with increasing level of fish oil. The concentrations of total protein, GOT, glucose, total lipids and total cholesterol in serum of ewes in G3 were higher (P<O.05) than ewes fed control diet. Average daily gain values of suckling lambs were higher for fish oil groups than that of control one. Ewes in G3 exhibited estrus (%), fertility(%) and litter size higher than control and G2, without significant differences. Duration from lambing to first estrus was shorted in G2 (117 days) followed by G3 (132 day) and control group (139 day). It could be concluded that fish oil addition at the rate of 2 and 4% of OM intake, to mature ewes had beneficial effects on tested productive perfonnance traits and reproductive petfonnance in mating season, without any adverse effects on blood constituents and animals health in general.

Summary in Arabic.

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