الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 104 |  |  |
| | | from | 104 | | |
Abstract
This study was carried out at the Research farm of Animal Production
Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University .The objective of this
study was to investigate the effects of dietary freshly crushed NSS as feed
additive on growth performance, milk yield and its composition, some blood
constituents and some reproductive traits in buffaloes.
Nine pregnant multiparous buffaloes during their last 8 weeks of
gestation were divided into three equal groups. The control group (G1, 3
animals) were fed the concentrate mixture, wheat straw and fresh berseem
according to their NRC (2001) standards without NSS in their ration. Groups
2 (G2, 3 animals) and 3 (G3, 3 animals) received 50 and 100 mg NSS/kg
body weight/animal/day, respectively. It was mixed daily with the
concentrate mixture.
Body weight was recorded monthly before calving, and after calving.
Body weight of offspring was recorded biweekly. Blood samples were
withdrawn (biweekly) from buffaloes jugular vein for determination of
hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV%),white blood cell (WBCS) and
plasma concentrations of total protein(g/dl), albumin(g/dl), globulin(g/dl),
glucose(mg/dl), cholesterol(mg/dl), triglycerides(mg/dl) and prolactin
(ng/dl). Milk composite samples of morning and afternoon milking were
obtained biweekly for protein, fat, lactose, ash and total solids
determination. Somatic cell count (SCC) were counted in milk samples
withdrawn from the morning milking by the end of each month. Some
reproductive traits measurements [expulsion of placenta (h), date of the first
service (days) and days open (days)] were recorded.
The results obtained could be summarized as follows:
1-Body weights of buffaloes fed NSS (G2 and G3) were significantly (P
<0.05) greater than those fed the control ration (G1), before and after
78
calving. The birth weight of new born suckling calves was greater for
dams received NSS (G3) than those for buffaloes fed the experimental
ration of G1and G2.
2- Dietary NSS increased significantly (p<0.05) buffalo’s milk yield
(7.61, 8.53, and 8.37kg/head/day) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively,
while the corresponding values of 7% FCM yield was 7.89 , 8.92 and
9.04 kg/head/day, respectively.
3- Dietary NSS supplementation significantly increased (p<0.05) milk
concentration of fat, protein, lactose and total solids percentage yield
(%). Also, Immunoglobulin’s IgG, IgM and IgA in colostrum and milk
were significantly increased (P<0.05) in supplemented groups compared
to the control. Dietary NSS significantly (p<0.05) decreased somatic cell
count.
4-Dietary NSS significantly increased (P<0.05) the overall means of
hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV %).
5- Dietary NSS significantly increased (P<0.05) the overall mean of
white blood cells (WBCS) by 31.37% and 32.6% in groups 2 and 3,
respectively compared with the control group.
6-NSS led to a decrease of albumin concentration. However, dietary
NSS increased the overall mean of total protein and globulin. The
differences were not significant.
7- Dietary NSS decreased significantly (P<0.05) the overall mean of
glucose (from 62.75 in control group to 51.54 and 55.55 mg/dl in G2 and
G3, respectively)
79
8- Dietary NSS significantly decreased (P<0.05) the overall mean of
cholesterol by 8.11% and 18.02% in groups 2 and 3 , respectively
compared to the control group (G1).
9- Dietary NSS decreased significantly (P<0.05) the overall mean of
triglycerides by 24.96% and 12.99% in groups 2 and 3 compared to the
control group (G1).
10- Dietary NSS increased significantly (P<0.05) the overall mean of
prolactin (from 2.77 ng/dl in control group to 2.99 (G2) and 2.88 (G3)
ng/dl .
11-Dietary NSS led to reduce the time needed for fetal membrane
expulsion (9.08, 6.83 and 4.83 h), date of the first estrus after calving
(81.67, 67.67 and 61 day) and days open (135, 104 and 94 days),
respectively.
12- NSS supplementation with the doses recorded improved the
economical evaluation. The superiority of buffaloes fed 50 or 100 mg
NSS/kg body weight was 59.5 an