Four common Egyptian Agricultural by products used for ruminant feeding were treated with different concentrations of Probiotic (ZAD) to study the effect of treatment on chemical composition of roughages. Roughages used were rice straw (RS), wheat straw (WS), corn stover (CS) and sugar cane bagasse (SCB). Concentrations of ZAD tested in this study were 0.05, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 ml/Kg of roughage. Roughages were mixed with ZAD solution and incubated anaerobically for 4 weeks. Results indicated that treatments decreased crude fiber (CF) contents of all roughages by 17 % in CS to 30% in SCB and increased EE by multiplication of 1.45 times in WS to 4.9 times in SCB. Statistical analysis showed no significant interaction between roughage source and ZAD concentration on chemical composition of roughages except for crude protein where interaction was significant (P<.05). Results also indicated that ZAD concentration over 0 ml/kg affected CF & CP contents, it was also noticed that CP of RS showed the highest response for treatment followed by SCB and CS, respectively. Crude protein of WS was not affected by different ZAD concentration. It was concluded that ZAD concentration of 1 ml/ 1 Kg of roughage is recommended for treatment to improve roughage chemical analysis.

Two hundred multiparous Holstein dairy cows post-partum were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group (control, n=100) was fed total mixed ration (TMR) without a supplement of liquid probiotic enzymes. The second group (treatment, n=100) was fed TMR supplemented with a commercial probiotic (ZAD) prepared by Bactizad company, Cairo, Egypt. at the rate of 10 ml/head/day.  According to the guide of the manufacture for 12 weeks ZAD was added and mixed to the TMR at the time of feeding once per day. Each group was placed in a shaded pen equipped with free stalls.    Results obtained showed that     Milk yield increased significantly from 39.57 kg/day for control group up to 41.73 kg/day for treated with ZAD group.  Fat and protein milk percentage tended to be improved due to treated with ZAD but the difference was not significant. Lactose percentage was affected positively and significantly by treated of ZAD, lactose percentage was 4.79 for control group and 4.83 for ZAD group.  Serum total protein increased significantly from 11.52 (g/dl) for control group up to 11.85(g/dl) for treated ZAD group. Albumin was significantly higher in control group.   Results indicated that blood urea concentration in treated group being 34.77 (mg/dl) and for the control group 33.91 (mg/dl), was significantly higher.  Alkaline phosphates increased significantly in treated group from 21.105 U/l for control group up to 26.92 U/l for treated group.   Cholesterol concentration was reduced significantly due to treatment from 240.98 mg/dl in control cows to 190.13 mg/dl in treated cows.  Triglycerides concentration declined significantly due to treatment of probiotic ZAD. In control cows triglycerides concentration was 27.871 (mg/dl) and treated cows was 20.9781 (mg/dl).  T3 concentration increased significantly as a response to treatment by probiotic ZAD. T3 concentration was 117.29 ng/dl in treated group and 62.38 mg/dl in control group.

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of different level of probiotic supplementation to ruminant rations, using in-vitro batch culture technique to determine degradation and fermentation parameters. In vitro experimental ration was formulated, the ration consisted of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% concentrate feed mixture. Three level of probiotic supplementation (106, 108, 1010 cfu/kg DM) were evaluated. DM and total gas production as well as fermentation parameters of the incubated samples were determined after 24 hrs. of fermentation. Slightly increases (P>0.05) in in-vitro dry matter degradability were observed for the ration supplemented with probiotics bacteria at different levels (106,108 and 1010 cfu/ kg DM) compared to control ration. Probiotics bacteria supplementation with different level (106,108 and 1010 cfu/ kg DM) led to significant (P<0.001) increases in organic matter degradability and total gas production per sample and per g DM, OM, NDF and ADF compared to the not supplemented ration (control ration), and no significant differences were observed among the different levels of probiotics supplementation. Significant increase in total volatile fatty acid concentration after 24 hours' incubation period compared to the not supplemented ration. On the other hand, the treatment supplemented with probiotic recorded lower ammonia concentration compared to the control group. It could be concluded that, adding  probiotics bacteria supplementation to experimental ration resulted increase DM and OM degradability and using dose 106 CFU/kg DM feed is sufficient to induce improvement in degradability and fermentation parameters