Studies on Digestion Coefficients and Rumen Fermentation of some Improved Rations by Males of Sinai Sheep and Goats

In order to improve the productivity of Sinai sheep and goats, the effects of feeding with mineral mixture additives (experiment 1) and the mixture of mineral with alfalfa (experiment 2) on the digestion coefficients (dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE)), nutritive values (total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible crude protein (DCP)) and rumen fermentation were evaluated. Experiment 1 was applied to evaluate two rations (1 and 2). Ration 1 contained concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and wheat straw (ratio 2:1) and ration 2 contained CFM with additive of 0.2% mineral mixture and wheat straw. Experiment 2 was applied to evaluate two rations (A and B). Ration A contained CFM, Alfalfa and wheat straw and ration B contained CFM mixed with 0.2% mineral mixture additive, Alfalfa and wheat straw. Three Sinai rams and three Sinai bucks aged 2-3 years were used. The rumen parameters as pH, ammonia-N, Volatile fatty acids, microbial protein and protozoa were measured in rumen fluid at 0, 2 and 4 hours after feeding. Results of experiment 1 indicated that the differences of digestion coefficients of nutrients between ration 1 and ration 2 were not significant, while the EE digestibility in ration 2 (55.6%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than ration1 (53.3%) in the sheep. The digestion coefficients of DM (65.1%) and OM (67.1%) in ration 2 were significantly higher (P<0.05) than ration 1 (62.5% and 64.1%, respectively) in the goats. The digestion coefficients of CF (58.6%) and EE (58.5%) of ration B were significantly higher (P<0.05) than ration A (56.5% and 56.2%, respectively) in the sheep. The digestion coefficients of DM (67.4%) and OM (68.6%) in ration B were significantly higher (P<0.05) than ration A (65.7% and 67.1%, respectively) in the goats. In sheep, NFE of ration B was significantly (P<0.05) lower than ration A (70.4% and 72.9%, respectively). In goats, TDN values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in ration 2 than ration 1 (64.3% and 63.1%, respectively) and also in ration B than ration A (64.9% and 62.4%, respectively). The difference of NH₃-N at 4h post feeding in rumen of goats was significantly (P<0.05) lower in ration 2 than ration 1 (17.7 mg and 21mg per 100 ml rumen liquid, respectively). The lowest values (P<0.05) of pH were recorded at 4 h after feeding in both breeds. In sheep, microbial protein (MP) in the rumen fluid was significantly (P<0.05) higher in ration B than ration A (0.90 g and 0.84 g per 100 ml rumen liquid, respectively). It could be concluded that using of the mixture of mineral additives (N.Candles© Pharm) in feeding Sinai sheep and goats can improve the digestion coefficients, nutritive values and rumen fermentation. Further studies in this area are recommended to evaluate effect of mineral additives on animal performance and its economical return.