Some wool characteristics of Barki sheep fed on some halophytes under desert conditions [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Thirty adult Barki ewes were randomly divided to three groups (n=10) and were used to study the effect of feeding different forms of halophytic plants on wool production and characteristics. The maintenance requirements of energy were totally covered by barely grains and water was available twice a day for each group. The first group (control) had a free choice to feed on berseem hay, the second group was allowed to feed on fresh mixture of halophytic plants (Atriplex nummulria and Acacia saligna) at the ratio of 1:1 while the third group was allowed to feed on silage form of the halophytic plants mixture (ad lib.). Dimensions of the primary and secondary wool follicles were lower (p<0.05) in animals fed on fresh halophytes mixture compared with those of the control group. The concentrations of general proteins in primary and secondary follicles structures showed a similar trend. There was an obvious deterioration in wool production and most of the studied traits due to feeding halophytes mixture either in fresh or silage forms.However, the ensilage processing of the halophytes mixture seemed to decrease the negative effects on these traits where it occupied an intermediate position between the control and fresh halophytes groups. The concentration of wool sulfur was higher (p<0.05) in the ensilage halophytes group than that of the control (p>0.05) and the fresh halophytes mixture (p<0.05) groups.

Summary in Arabic.

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