REPRODUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BARKI EWES FED NIGELLA SATIVA MEAL UNDER THE NORTH WEST COAST CONDITIONS OF EGYPT

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Animal Production Unit in the Sustainable Development Center for Matrouh Resources, Matrouh Governorate, belongs to the Desert Research Center in the North Western Coast of Egypt during the period from April 2014 to March 2015. Sixty adult Barki ewes (2.0-3.0 years old and 38.89 ± 1.02 kg average body weight) were assigned randomly into three equal groups (20 each). The first group (G1) was served as control group fed the basal diet contained 20% cotton seed meal and 6% soya bean meal as a source of protein, while the second group (G2) was fed diet contained 13% of NSM and 8% soya bean meal as a source of main protein ration. The third group (G3) was fed diet contained 25% of NSM as a source of main ration protein. All groups were offered berssem (Trifolium alexandrinum) hay ad libitum, and rations were adjusted monthly to cover their requirements during their different physiological status. This work was conducted to investigate the impact of Nigella sativa meal (NSM) as a source of ration protein on the reproductive performance and productive efficiency of Barki ewes and their lambs under arid conditions of North Western Coast of Egypt. The main results could be summarized as follows: 1- Chemical composition of different rations revealed that dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and ash were nearly similar in all tested rations. While, crude protein (CP) was higher in NSM (31.3%) than cotton seed meal (24.0%) and less than soya bean meal (46.5%). 2- Reproductive parameters (conception rate, lambing rate, number of barren, aborted and stillbirth ewes) were not affected by the source of protein. 3- Number of lambs born alive, number of lambs weaned and weaning rate were increased in NSM groups compared to control group. 4- Mortality rate from birth to weaning markedly declined in NSM groups compared to control group with values being 11.7, 5.2 and 5.5 % for control, G2 and G3, respectively. 5- Ewes of the different experimental groups gained weight during the gestation period (5 moths) being 7.5, 7.4 and 6.7 kg for G3, G2 and control, respectively with differences being insignificant. 6- Lambs birth weight was significantly higher in G3 and G2 than control group with values being 3.44, 3.31 and 3.01 kg, respectively. 7- Weaning weight and average daily gain from birth to weaning were also significantly higher in NSM groups compared to control group. 8- Milk yield insignificantly increased in G3 (630.0 ml/h/d) followed by G2(606.0 ml/h/d) and control group (589.3 ml/h/d), while milk production tended to increase during early and mid-stages of lactation (8 weeks) then declined steadily up to the end of lactation period (12 weeks) for all groups. 9- Milk composition of milk samples showed that milk protein and solid not fat significantly increased in NSM groups, while milk fat was significantly increased in control group. 10- Total protein, albumin and globulin concentration insignificantly increased in G3 then G2 compared to control group. 11- Total lipids concentration insignificantly decreased in NSM groups compared to control group with values being 661.51, 556.34 and 553.18 mg/dl for control, G2 and G3, respectively. 12- Cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) significantly increased in control group, while low density lipoprotein (LDL) was not differed between experimental groups. 13- Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) did not differed between experimental groups 14- Kidney function parameters (urea and creatinin) were not affected by type of protein ration 15- Blood serum glucose concentration was insignificantly decrease in G3 compared to other two groups with values 93.69, 99.81and 96.54 for G3, G2 and control group, respectively. 16- Progesterone (P4) profiles during estrous cycle were found to follow the normal pattern reported during follicular and luteal phases in the estrus cycle with insignificant differences between experimental groups 17- Triiodothyronine (T3) concentration recorded significant increase in NSM groups (G3 and G2) compared to control group, while thyroxin (T4) insignificantly increased in G3 followed by G2 then control group. 18- Sodium concentration was insignificantly increased in G2 followed by control group, while G3 recorded the lowest value (160.28, 146.69 and 127.97 mg/dl) for G2, control and G3, respectively 19- The mean values of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) were nearly similar between the different experimental groups. 20- Data of hematological parameters indicated that WBCs, RBCs, Ht and MCV were significantly increased as NSM increased in the ration indicated that NSM improved animal health. 21- Using of NSM significantly improved blood plasma immunoglobulin concentration (IgA and IgG) as compared to control group. 22- Total antioxidant insignificantly increased in NSM groups whereas G2 recorded the highest values (0.210 mm/l) then G3 (0.178 mm/l), while the control group recorded the lowest value (0.168 mm/l) although differences were not significant. It could be concluded that using Nigella sativa meal (NSM) as an alternative source of protein ration improve reproductive and productive performance of Barki ewes, also it improved some immunological parameters of ewes and decreased mortality rate of new born lambs. NSM also increased body weights at birth and weaning compared to control group, so this study recommended using NSM in animal ration as an alternative source of protein ration.