الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was conducted at Sids Experimental Station, Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), with partnership of the Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, Egypt, throughout the period from January 2020 until March 2021.
The study aimed to determine the impact of feeding Sesbania and/or mixed with ECH or Sudan grass as a replacement with rice straw in experimental rations on digestibility coefficients, feeding values, ruminal parameters, performance of Ossimi ewes (reproductive, lactation, thyroid hormones and their offspring performance) and performance of growing Ossimi lambs (growth rate, feed conversion, sexual activity at puberty, evaluation of semen quality and testosterone levels). Finally, a simple economical evaluation was considered.
Four digestibility trials were conducted to evaluate the experimental rations using 12 rams (3 in each), 2-3 years age and 50.25 kg averaged weight as the following
Ration 1 (R1, control): 50% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 50% rice straw (RS) as requirements of CP according to NRC (2007).
Ration 2 (R2) : 50% CFM + 50 % Sesbania (SESB).
Ration 3 (R3) : 50% CFM + 25 % SESB + 25% ECH
Ration 4 (R4) : 50% CFM +25 % SESB + 25% Sudan grass (SUD).
Diets offered at two times; 9 am and 4 pm daily. Composite of feedstuff samples analyzed according to the methods of AOAC (2003). Gross energy (GE) calculated after Nehring and Haenlein (1973) as follows, GE, Mcal/kg DM = (5.72 CP +9.5 EE +4.79 CF + 4.03 NFE) / 1000 (where the values of CP, EE, CF, NFE, are in g/kg DM). Fresh water and blocks of mineral salts were available all times of the experiment.
The yield of Sesbania pure, Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania- ECH mixture were estimated as fresh, dry matter, crude protein,
TDN and DCP ton/feddan and cost per ton green or dry forages were determined.
The results were obtained as follows:
Chemical composition:
The chemical composition of Sesbania Sudan grass, ECH, Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania-ECH mixture explained that DM, OM and CF% were slightly lower in Sesbania than Sudan grass, ECH, Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania-ECH mixture.
The DM percent of Sesbania was 20.12%. The DM percent of Sudan grass was 80.73%. The DM percent of ECH grass was 75.77%. The DM percent of Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture were 71.23 in and were 69.97% of Sesbania-ECH mixture. The CP percent of Sesbania was 19.19The CP percent in Sudan grass was 11.86 %.The CP percent of ECH was 8.95 and The CP percent of Sesbania mixture with Sudan grass or ECH was 16.04-15.31%.
The EE percent was higher in Sesbania than Sudan grass and ECH, while mixtures of Sesbania with Sudan grass or ECH were slightly higher than Sesbania pure. NFE percent of Sudan grass and ECHwas slightly Lower than Sesbania and its mixtures.
Ash percent of Sesbania was lower than ECH and Sesbania Sudan grass mixture .The DM intake by ewes as kg/h/d, %LBW and g/kg W0.75 were significantly lower in control ration than rations contains CFM and green forages. The highest values of DM intake was showed by ewes fed ration contained CFM+Sesbania pure. The differences between mixtures of Sesbania-Sudan grass and Sesbania-ECH were not significant.
Digestibility coefficients:
Three healthy adult Ossimi rams averaged 50.25±0.33 kg were used in each feeding treatment. Rams were fed according to the NRC (2007) allowances. Rice straw was the roughage.
Result:
The differences among all rations in digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP and NFE of tested rations were significant. The CF digestibility of rations contained Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture or Sesbania-ECH mixture was significantly lower than rations contained Sesbania pure or control. digestibility of control was significantly higher than other rations, while the differences among other rations were not significant.
The differences of TDN among four rations were not significant.
The DCP value of ration contained CFM+Sesbania was significantly higher than other rations, the lowest values of DCP were showed in control ration.
The TDN and DCP intakes were significantly high for Sesbania pure ration than other rations. The highest values of TDN intake was found in rations contained Sesbania+CFM. The DCP intakes from the rations contained CFM+green forages were nearly similar and the differences among this rations were significant.
Ruminal parameters:
Rumen fluid samples were taken from 12 rams (3 in each group) using a stomach tube at zero time (before feeding), 3 hours, and 6 hours post-feeding. These samples were filtered through three layers of surgical gauze without squeezing. Ruminal pH was immediately estimated by a digital pH meter. Rumen ammonia-N. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) were measured by the steam distillation method and. The total number of protozoa was counted by using the Fuchs Rosenthal chamber. Microbial protein was determined by the sodium tungstate method.
Result:
The ruminal parameters explained that the pH value of group fed on sesbania+CFM was significantly higher than control and insignificantly higher than other groups at 2 hrs , while the pH of group fed on Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture+CFM was insignificantly higher than that fed on Sesbania-ECH mixture + CFM and significantly higher than other groups at 4hrs.
The pH of control was significantly lower than other groups at all times and while the differences among other groups were not significant.
The obtained pH values after feeding ranged from 6.33 to 7.25.
The NH3-N were significantly higher post feeding than before feeding.
The differences among treatments at 2hrs after feeding were not significant. The NH3-N of control was significantly higher than other groups at 4hrs post feeding, while the differences among other groups were not significant at the same time.
The lowest total VFA’s was recorded at 0 hrs., then significantly increased post feeding.
The differences among treatments at 2 and 4 hrs post feeding were significant. TVFA’s of Sesbania-Sudan grass mixtures was significantly higher than control at 2 hrs, and Sesbania-ECH mixture was significantly higher than control at4 hrs.
The differences of total number of protozoa and microbial protein at 4 hrs post feeding were significant among all rations.
Performance of Ossimi ewes pre- and post-lambing:
Thirty days pre-lambing, forty pregnant Ossimi ewes averaged 43.53±0.63 kg, 3-5 years old and had 2-3 parities were divided into four equal groups (10 ewes each) according to age, body weight and parity. Ewes were randomly divided into four groups fed experimental rations.
Result:
Body weight change: supplemented with SESB had significantly higher (P < 0.05) BW post-lambing than other groups. At weaning, the superiority in BW was significant (P < 0.001) in Sesbania pure, followed by Sesbania-sudan grass, and then Sesbania-ECH compared to the control group (R1), as well as % changes.
The total DM intake of ewes sesbania pure higher than sesbania-sudan grass or sesbania-ECH.
The feed conversion of rations containing green forages were nearly similar.
Effect of the experimental rations on growing lambs:
Forty Ossimi male lambs (10 per each) three months old of similar birth type were selected to study the effect of feeding the same transaction on sexual performance and production of male lambs. Lambs averaged 20.17±0.43 kg. All lambs were weighed biweekly and kept under the same environmental conditions in a semi-open shaded yard during the experimental period.
Result:
The total DM intake of growing lambs of control (1.20kg/h/d) was Lower than other groups which fed Sesbania pure, Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania-ECH mixture (1.38, 1.28 and 1.24 kg/h/d, respectively). The TDN intake of growing lambs fed control ration was relatively Lower than that fed on rations containing Sesbania, Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania–ECH mixture. The values of TDN intake of rations containing CFM + green forages were nearly similar. The DCP intake by lambs fed Sesbania ration were relatively higher than other rations.
Final body weight of stage one, stage two and final experiment of all treatments were nearly similar and the differences among four groups were not significant. The differences of ADG among four groups were not significant and were 163.83, 212.50, 170.83 and 179.17 gm/h/d for lamb groups which fed control, CFM + Sesbania, CFM+ Sesbania-Sudan grassmix. and CFM+Sesbania-ECH mix.,respectively.
The best feed conversion as Kg DM/Kg gain were recorded with ration containing control and the bad feed conversion recorded with Sesbania pure. The feed conversion of rations containing green forages were nearly similar..
The highest cost value of feed consumption was recorded with control, followed CFM+Sesbania. The lowest cost of feed consumption was recorded with Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania-ECH mixture. The price of weight gain of all groups were nearly similar (3.76, 3.54, 3.40and 3.42 LE/h/d, respectively.
The best economical efficiency was showed in Sesbania-Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania + CFM (1.058 and 1.175(and the bad economical efficiency was recorded with control ration 0.816).
The total cost of green forage for Sesbania pure, Sesbania- Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania-ECH mixture were 586.22,522.24 and 508.22 LE/ton, respectively.
Milk production and milk sampling and analysis:
The technique of hand milking was used to stimulate milk yield. Ewes have been milked twice daily every week by milking one teat while the lamb suckles the other one. immediately after each milking by adding three drops of potassium dichromate. components of milk such fat, protein, lactose, total solids, and solids without fat
Result:
Concerning milk composition indicated that milk fat and protein % were significantly higher in experimental rations than in the control ration. However, the differences among the groups were not significant.
The SESB-supplemented group followed by both mixture groups produced more milk than the control ewes..
FCM followed the same pattern as milk fat. This improvement in the milk fat % in the control group.
Milk fat and milk protein were influenced significantly by SESB substitution, being Sesbania +FCM showed the highest percentages compared to the others.
The best average milk yield was recorded Sesbania pure
Blood sampling and biochemical studies:
Blood samples were collected biweekly in the morning before feeding via the jugular vein from ewes or growing lambs using 5ml tubes. 1 ml of the blood was put into a bottle containing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant for hematological assay. The remaining 4 ml of the blood sample was put into a sterile vacutainer tube without an anticoagulant for serum hormonal assay. The clear non-haemolysed supernatant serum was quickly removed for analysis of biochemical parameters. The obtained samples were kept at -20 °C till used.
Result:
Thyroid hormones [Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxin (T4)] increased significantly in blood serum by feeding of SESB.
T3 and T4 values in lactating ewes or lambs were 88.89, 55.56, & 61.48 % and 110.91, 98.44, & 103.57% higher in Sesbania-Sesbania+Sudan grass mixture and Sesbania+ECH groups, respectively compared to the control group. At the same time
The best values of Sesbania+CFM in TC, TG, and VLDLc compared to other rations. most hematological parameters and differential leucocyte count among experimental groups in both ewes and ram-lambs were higher Sesbania than to other rations.