The Potential of Feeding Goats Sun Dried Rumen Contents with or without Bacterial Inoculums as Replacement for Berseem Clover and the Effects on Milk Production and Animal Health

Abstract

Upgrading the nutritive value of sun dried Rumen Contents (RC) by enzymatic treatments and additives can make it a valuable feed resource for ruminants. The objective of this study was to determine the feeding value of partial replacement of Berseem Clover (BC) by treated RC with a mixture of exogenous enzymes (ZADO® or ZAD®) from anaerobic bacteria in the ration of early lactating Baladi goats. Twelve lactating Baladi goats weighed 26±0.5 kg in the first week of lactation were randomly assigned among four experimental treatments using 4x4 Latin square design to be fed four rations. 60% Concentrate Feed Mixture (CFM)+40% BC (Control); 60% CFM+20% BC+20% DRC (T1); 60% CFM+20% BC+20% DRC treated with compound ZAD (T2); 60% CFM+20% BC+20% DRC treated with ZAD compound+20 g compound ZADO /head/d fed directly before feeding (T3). The period of this trial divided into four experimental periods each of 30 days. Results showed that T3 and T2 groups recorded higher values of digestibility coefficients compared with control and T1 group. Groups contained DRC recorded higher values (p>0.05) of ruminal pH and non Protein Nitrogen (NPN) than the control. The treated groups (T2, T3) showed higher (p<0.05) values for rumen liquor ammonia, NPN and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA's) (p>0.05) compared with untreated group (T1). Results showed insignificant differences for blood serum total proteins, globulins, urea, Creatinine, Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanin aminotransferase (ALT) and glucose. Biological treated groups (T3 and T2) increased (p>0.05) daily milk yield, 4%fat corrected milk (4% FCM), fat, Total Solids (TS), Solids Not Fat (SNF) and lactose yields compared with T1 group. It could be concluded that feeding goats on rations containing DRC treated with ZADO and/or ZAD compounds as a partial substitute of berseem improved the performance of lactating goats without any adverse effect on animals’ health.