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Background and Objectives: Ziziphus mauritiana due to having a significant amount of protein and energy has been introduced as a part of fodder for light livestock, especially in conditions of food restrictions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Indian Ziziphus (Ziziphus mauritiana) leaves feeding on growth performance, hematology and blood biochemical parameters of Adani fattening goat kids. Materials and Methods: In this study, 16 Adani male goat kids with an average age of 180 ± 11 days and an average weight of 17.28 ± 1.32 kg were used in a completely randomized design using 2 treatments and 8 replications. At first, based on regular random method, samples were taken from Ziziphus mauritiana leaves. In order to mix Ziziphus mauritiana leaves with other components of the ration, after drying in the sun, Ziziphus mauritiana leaves were cut into small pieces (2-3 cm). Experimental treatments include: 1) basal diet without Ziziphus mauritiana leaves (control diet), 2) basal diet with 20% Ziziphus mauritiana leaves (based on the percentage of dry matter of the ration). In the experimental diet, Ziziphus mauritiana leaves replaced with 20% of alfalfa in the control diet. In order to acclimatize the animals, a period of 15 days was considered. Goats were kept in individual stalls and fed experimental diets for 75 days. During the experiment, the feed consumed two times a day according to appetite and water was freely available to the Goats. Weighing of the goat kids was done weekly and before the morning feed, and the amount of feed given and remaining was weighed daily. On days 0, 35 and 75, blood samples were taken from the the jugular vein of goats kids and the blood parameters included RBC, WBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HGB, platelet, total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, LDL, HDL., urea, glucose, calcium and phosphorus were measured. Results: Investigating the growth performance did not show a significant effect between the final weight, daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of the experimental treatments (P<0.05). The results of investigation of haematological parameters showed significant changes in the average concentration of white blood cells (WBC), the average volume of red blood cells (MCV) and platelets at the 35th day, as well as the average concentration of white blood cells and platelets at the 75th day of the experiment (P<0.05). The interaction effect of the feeding level of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves and the sampling time on the blood parameters of Adani fattening goat kids had only a significant effect on the average concentration of white blood cells (P<0.05). Investigation of blood biochemical parameters only showed that feeding of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves had significant effect on the average concentration of calcium at the 35th day and the average concentration of protein at the 75th day of the experiment (P<0.05). The interaction effect of the feeding level the Ziziphus mauritiana leaves and sampling time on the blood biochemical parameters of Adani goat kids had significant effect only on the average concentration of protein of the treatments (P<0.05). Conclusion: Finally, the results of this study showed that Ziziphus mauritiana leaves can be used up to 20% of the forage consumption of Adni fattening goat kids without negative effect on haematological and blood biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Rangeland forage is the main source of feed for sheep and goats in many countries and the concentration of heavy metals in these plants is very important. Bushehr province is also affected by environmental pollution due to its proximity to the Persian Gulf, the occurrence of different wars and the existence of different oil and gas resources. The environment and rangelands, which feed on various livestock, are also exposed to these contaminants. Therefore, knowing the composition of the compounds and health of grassland forages will greatly help experts to better understand the health of meat and milk of animals that graze on these pastures. Materials and Methods: Based on the rangeland area and the number of livestock in the coastal strip, two rangelands of Bashi and Rostami were selected and their grassland forage was randomly sampled. Plants were sampled at three grazing stages (first, middle and end of grazing season). Samples were dried in shade, then mixed and milled and sent to the laboratory. Results: The results showed that the average of lead, cobalt, cadmium and chromium were 0.30, 0.15, 0.017 and 3.73 mg/kg dry matter in total rangeland, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the amount of cobalt element in the two study areas and the amount of other elements was not significantly different. The amount of cadmium was significantly different in the various stages of grazing, with the highest concentration in the first stage of grazing. Conclusion: In general, the concentrations of these elements in the fodder of coastal rangelands of Tangestan area of Bushehr province were at permissible level for grazing animals. No risk of shortage or poisoning for the animals was observed and hence no danger to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]