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This work aims to investigate the impact of some antioxidants, i.e., zinc sulfate (ZnS) administration, vitamin E and selenium (E-Sel) injection on hematological parameters and thermoregulatory responses of Aberdeen Angus cows. Sixteen cows were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (4 cows each), First group served as a control (G1); second group was received E-Sel injection at rate of 15 ml/ head / 15day) (G2); third group was fed on ZnS with an average rate of 200 mg/head/ daily (G3) and the fourth one was fed on ZnS in combination with E-Sel injection (G4). All experimental cows were fed 60% of their requirements as CFM and the rest of other requirements was covered from wheat strew ad libitum. In addition, the AT and RH% were recorded during the experimental days to calculate the current THI. Blood samples were collected during experimental period from jugular vein. Physiological parameter measurements were recorded during the experimental days. The obtained results showed that the average values of THI were between 69.04 and 85.46 during the experimental period. Treated cows with E-Sel recorded the highest values of hematological parameters in terms of WBC, RBC, HB, HCT and PLT compared with other groups. Using antioxidant agents had significant decrease in RR, PR, and HT. While, slightly decrease in RT, ST and ET was recorded of experimental animal. It is concluded that some antioxidants could improve hematological parameters and thermoregulatory responses of Aberdeen Angus cows under hot climatic conditions.

Application of phytogenic feed additives in livestock production is a sustainable practice and the search for more phytogenic options continues. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of lemongrass supplementation on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and milk production and composition. Thirty gestating Farafra ewes were randomly assigned to three experimental treatments of control (without a supplement), or with the supplementation of 5 g (LEM5 treatment), or 10 g of lemongrass/ewe/d (LEM10 treatment) for 12 weeks. Lemongrass supplementation at both doses did not influence ( p  > 0.05) nutrient intake, but improved nutrient digestibility ( p  < 0.05). Furthermore, LEM5 and LEM10 treatments improved ( p  ≤ 0.001) ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate. Blood glucose was increased ( p  < 0.05) and cholesterol was decreased in ewes supplemented with lemongrass at both doses. Milk yield, energy corrected milk yield, and milk component were improved ( p  ≤ 0.001) in ewes supplemented with lemongrass at 5 and 10 g while the feed efficiency was decreased. Lemongrass supplementation at both doses increased ( p  = 0.040) the proportion of milk total conjugated linoleic acid without affecting other milk fatty acids. In most of the parameters evaluated, there was no significant difference between LEM5 and LEM10. Therefore, lemongrass supplementation at 5 g/ewe/d can be used in dairy production with positive impacts.

The study determined the ability of three probiotics to improve the nutritional value of date palm leaves in diets of growing lambs. Twenty male Farafra lambs (26 ± 0.33 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments ( n = 6) and fed: a control or basal diet (C; 70% concentrate + 30% date palm leaves without additives) and supplemented with Bacillofort containing 2 × 10 11 CFU of Bacillus subtilis /g (BAC treatment), Lacotpro containing 1 × 10 12 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus /g (LAC treatment) or ZAD containing 6 × 10 8 CFU of R. albus /g (ZAD treatment) at 4 g of all additives for 150 days. As a result of this study, LAC improved ( P < 0.05) growth performance and feed efficiency compared to control. Additives increased ( P = 0.001) concentrations of albumin, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cells and decreased ( P = 0.001) globulin and urea-N. Additives increased hot carcass ( P = 0.040) while BAC increased Longissimus dorsi , meat and fat without affecting water holding capacity compared to other treatments. In the metabolism experiment, BAC increased the digestibility of crude protein, while BAC and ZAD increased the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber. Additives did not affect nitrogen (N) intake and urinary N; however, decreased fecal N and increased N balance compared to the control. BAC and ZAD increased ruminal volatile fatty acids concentration compared to the control. Based on our results, Lacotpro could be used to improve growth performance and feed efficiency, while Bacillofort could be used to improve meat quality of in lambs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hamdon, Kassab, Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Abdel Hafez, Sayed, Farghaly and Kholif.)

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ensiling of date palm leaves (DPL) with organic acids (lactic or malic acid) for 45 day as a feed for lactating ewes under desert conditions. Two weeks before expected parturition, 50 multiparous lactating Farafra ewes (mean ± SD: 2 ± 0.3 parity, 34 ± 1.9 kg bodyweight, 25 ± 2.4 months of age, and 555 ± 13.0 g/day of previous milk production) were equally divided into five treatments in a completely randomized design for 90 day. The ewes in the control treatment were offered a diet composed of a concentrate feed mixture and DPL at 60:40 on a dry matter (DM) basis ensiled without additive. In the other treatments, DPL (ensiled without organic acids) in the control treatment was replaced with DPL ensiled with lactic or malic acid (at 5 g/kg DM) at 50 or 100% levels. Organic acids linearly and quadratically increased (p < 0.01) DPL and total intakes and digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and nonstructural carbohydrates without affecting fiber digestibility. Malic and lactic acid treatment also increased the concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, propionate, and ammonia-N. Additionally, malic and lactic acid-treated DPL increased serum glucose concentration and total antioxidant capacity. Without affecting daily actual milk production, treatments increased (p < 0.001) the daily production of energy-corrected milk (ECM), fat-corrected milk (FCM), milk energy output, milk contents of fats, and feed efficiency. Organic acid-treated DPL increased (p < 0.05) the proportions of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and total conjugated linoleic acids and the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio in milk. It is concluded that feeding DPL ensiled with malic or lactic acid at 20 or 40% of total diet DM increased daily ECM and FCM production, nutrient utilization efficiency, and milk quality. No differences were observed between lactic and malic acid treatment of DPL during ensiling; therefore, both of them are recommended to treat DPL for silage preparation.

The present experiment evaluated the feeding of date palm leaves (DPL) ensiled with fibrolytic enzymes (ENZ) or multi-species probiotics (MSP) on nutrient utilization and lactational performance of ewes. Fifty multiparous lactating Farafra ewes were used in a completely randomized design for 90 d. The treatments consisted of the control diet with a concentrate feed mixture and date palm leaves (at 60:40, DM basis) ensiled without additive (control) or DPL ensiled with ENZ or MSP replacing control DPL at 50 or 100%. Both ENZ and MSP increased (p < 0.01) DPL and total intakes, digestibility of all nutrients, concentrations of ammonia, total volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate in the rumen. Increased milk production, concentrations of fat, lactose and energy in milk, and feed efficiency were observed with MSP and ENZ compared to the control treatment. Moreover, ENZ and MSP increased (p < 0.05) the concentrations of total n3, n6 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids and decreased (p < 0.001) the atherogenicity. The differences between ENZ and MSP and between the low and high replacement levels were minor for all measured parameters. Ensiling of DPL with MSP or fibrolytic enzymes is recommended to improve feed efficiency and improve lactational performance of ewes.

The associative effects of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae and copper (Cu) supplementation on feed utilisation and lactational performance in goats were evaluated. Thirty-two lactating Boer goats (34.8 ± 1.7 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the supplementation of C. vulgaris microalgae at 10 g/day (AL treatment), 9 mg of Cu/kg diet (CU treatment) or a mixture of both AL and CU treatments (ALCU treatment) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites and lactation performance of Boer goat milk yield and composition. Treatments did not affect feed intake; however, AL, ALCU and CU treatments increased (p < .001) nutrient digestibility. Treatment effect on ruminal pH, ammonia-N or propionate was marginal, but AL and ALCU treatments increased (p < .01) acetate, acetate/propionate ratio and total volatile fatty acids. Treatments increased (p < .001) serum glucose and Cu concentrations. Additionally, ALCU and AL treatments increased (p < .001) daily milk yield, energy corrected milk production, concentrations of ash, energy content, fat, lactose, solids not fat, total solids and milk (feed) efficiency. Conversely, the CU treatment decreased (p < .001) the concentration of all milk components, without affecting milk (feed) efficiency. Additionally, AL and ALCU treatments decreased (p < .05) the concentrations of saturated fatty acids by 2.4% and 4%, respectively, but increased (p < .05) the concentrations of total unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) by 5.4% and 9.8%, respectively, mono-UFA by 5.2% and 9.8%, respectively, and conjugated linoleic acid concentrations by 9.3% and 7.4% respectively. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet of lactating Boer goats with C. vulgaris microalgae with or without copper enhanced nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, milk production, milk efficiency and milk nutritive value. Copper supplementation had minimal effects; therefore, its use as a supplement in the presence of C. vulgaris microalgae to the diet of lactating Boer goats is recommended., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The present study aimed to improve ovarian follicle development and plasma metabolites and hormone concentrations upon supplementation of Boer goats with green microalga (Dunaliella salina; 10 g/head/day) (N = 20; MAT group) compared to control (N = 10; not receive microalgae) in subtropics. Estrus was synchronized in all animals by two intramuscular administration of 12.5 mg dinoprost 11 days a part. MAT group was supplemented with Dunaliella salina for 11 days (from the day of first injection of dinoprost till the second injection). Ovarian performance, steroids, LH, FSH and blood metabolites were assessed every three days during the estrous cycle. Numbers and sizes of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in MAT group. Progesterone, estrogen, FSH and LH were higher in MAT group during estrous cycle. Blood metabolites including glucose, total cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen were significantly (P < 0.05) increased upon D. salina administration. On the other hand, supplementation of D. salina resulted in significant decrease of plasma total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. In conclusion, supplementation with D. salina could improve ovarian follicle development and concentrations of plasma metabolites and hormones which subsequently improves reproductive performance of Boer goats., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A patient with concurrent ovarian and intrauterine pregnancy is described. Certain features were unique.