Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Chamomile Flowers on Digestability and Productive Performance of Baladi Growing Calves | ||||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||||
| Article 1, Volume 8, Issue 12, December 2017, Page 459-465 PDF (216.59 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2017.46064 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| M. E. El-Kholany; F. A. Elsayed; A. A. Mehany; G. A. Maged | ||||
| Animal Production Research Institute . Agricultural Research Center , Dokki, Giza | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| This studyiwasiconducted to evaluate the effectsiof added two levels of chamomile flowers to the rations of Baladi calves on growth performance, feedingivalues as well as some rumen and blood parameters. A total of 21 calves with an averageilive body weight of 100 kg, with an averageiage of 3-4 months were used in a feeding trial that lasted 360-d duration period. Animals wereidivided into threeisimilar groups (7 in each group) andifed their basal ration according to NRC (1996) recommendations. The dietsicontained 0, 5 and 10 g chamomile flowers / 100 kg BW/day for treatments G1 (control), G2 and G3, respectively. The basal ration (control) was formulated from concentrate feed mixture (CFM), berseem hay (BH) andirice straw (RS). In addition, 9 rams were used to evaluate the digestibility and feeding values of the experimental rations. Measurements of some rumen fermentation parameters and blood constitutes were determined as well. Results ishowed that the digestionicoefficients of all nutrientsiand feeding valuesiwere improved withiincreasing the leveliof chamomile (0, 5 and 10g / 100 kg BW/ day) in the rations and theidifferences were mostlyisignificantly between controliration and the high leveliof chamomile-ration. The results of rumen parameters showed that pH values, ammonia-N and TVFAs concentrations slightly changed over most sampling times among dietary treatments were observed, otherwise at sampling time (2hr post feeding), ammonia-N was significantly lower with the high chamomile ration than that of control one. However, addition of chamomile had significantly increased total volatile acids (TVFA's) concentrations at 4 hrs post feeding. The highest values of protozoa count and microbial protein at 4 hrs were recorded with G3 (0.840 and 684, respectively) and the lowest values were recorded with G1 (0.672 and 0.576, respectively). Regarding growth performance, the daily body gain (DBG) was higher with increasing chamomile level during the different growth periods. During 1period, the DBG in G2 was insignificantly higher than G1 but G3 was significant higher than G1. While, DBG during the second period was not significantly different among treatments. During the whole period, the final body weight was significantly higher with the two tested rations compared with that of unsupplemented one (control). Calves consumed approximately similar quantity of DM as g/ kgw0.75 since all calves had similar body weight. The daily DM intake expressed as g/kg w0.75 during the first period was higher than that consumed during the second period in all treatments. Most of the blood constituents were not significantly affected by adding chamomile flowers in the tested rations. The values of Hb and RBC,s tended to increase in animals given chamomile flowers and the differences were significant only for blood Hb concentration. Moreover, serum total protein and globulin concentrations were significantly higher with the high level of chamomile ration compared with control. Meanwhile, the concentrations of total lipids and cholesterol as well as the enzymes activity (GOT, GPT) were lower with the chamomile supplemented rations (G2 and G3) than those of control group (G1) and the differences were significant respecting total lipid concentration only. The economic efficiency was improved with increasing the level of chamomile in calve rations ( 3.546, 3.570 and 3.641for G1, G2 and G3, respectively). | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Growth performance; calves; Feed additives; chamomile flowers; feeding value; economiciefficiency | ||||
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