Histological, Histochemical, and Ultrastrucural Studies on the Hair Follicle characteristics and other Integumental Structures of Shami Goats Fed Under Saline Conditions in South Sinai

Abstract

The present work was conducted to assess and evaluate the impact of salinity in drinking water and salt tolerant plant (Alfalfa) on the histological, histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the hair follicle and other integumental structures of Shami male goats under arid conditions in south Sinai, Egypt. The field work of the present study was carried out at South Sinia Research Station (RasSudr), South Sinai Governorate belonging to the Desert Research Centre (DRC), Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt. Twenty-eight Shami male goats (2.0-2.5 months old with an average body weight of 13.02 ± 0.34 kg) were assigned randomly into equal four groups (each of 7 animals). The first group (G1) was served as control fed berseem (Trifoliumalexandrnum) hay and drank fresh water (247 ppm), the second group (G2) fed berseem (Trifoliumalexandrnum) hay and drank saline water (6000 ppm), the third group (G3) fed salt-tolerant plant (alfalfa) and drank fresh water and the fourth group (G4) fed salt-tolerant plant (alfalfa) and drank saline water. All groups were offered concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and roughages (60%:40%) to cover their maintenance and productive requirements according to Kearl(1982). Water was available to all groups daily. Samples from roughage and CFM were taken monthly to determine their chemical