Effect of tafla and bentofarm on digestability and growth of sheep

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of tafla and bentofarm addition on digestibility and nutritive values of rams, growth perfonnance and some blood constituents of growing lambs. Twenty seven Rahmani mature rams, averaged 45 kg of live body weight were divided randomly to three main groups, and each main group was subdivided into three treatments (three animals each). Main first group fed 100% bereseam and served as a control (T 1, the other two subgroups fed the T 1 diet plus 3% tafla (T 2) or 3% bentofarm (T 3). The second main group fed 50% berseam and 50% concentrate feed mixture (T 4), the other two subgroups fed the T 4 diet plus3% tafla (T 5) or 3% bentofarm (T 6). The third main group fed 100% concentrate feed mixture and rice straw (T7), the other subgroups fed (T7)diet plus 3% tafla (T8) or 3% bentofarm (T9).To carry out the growth trail, forty eight male lambs about 2 months of age and average live body weight 14.5kg were divided into six similar groups (eight lambs each) according to their body weight. The experimental rations were: T 4 -T 9 in previous tasted rations. The results of digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) significantly (P0.05) decreased as a result of tafla and bentofarm addition than that of the control, while organic matter (OM), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibilities were slightly improved with tafla or bentofarm compared with these of control, without significant differences between them.. However, the results of nutritive values as total digestible nutrients (TDN), starch value (SV) and digestible crude protein (DCP) showed no significant differences among treatments. The results of the average daily gain improved by 4.04% and 6.49% with lambs fed rations with tafla or bentofarm, respectively, compared with unsupplemented rations but the differences between treatments were not significant. The results of glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT), creatinine, alkaline phosphates and total protein in blood serum showed no significant differences among treatments. The results of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) significantly (P0.05) decreased by addition of tatla or bentofarm compared with the control treatment. The obtained result of serum calcium showed significant (PO.05) differences among treatments. While, the results of serum phosphorus, magnesium and iron showed uo significant differences among treatments. The results of serum zinc and copper significantly (P0.05) decreased with tafla and bentofarm addition compared with the control one.