Effects of agricultural byproducts in ration on productive and reproductive performance of Saidi rams
2006
Megahed, G.A.(Assiut Univ. (Egypt). Dept. of Theriogenology) E-mail:[email protected] | Etman, A.H.M.(Al-Azhar Univ., Cairo (Egypt). Dept. of Animal Production)
Forty Said rams were divided into 4 groups and fed as follows: control animals - a concentrate feed mixture (CFM, 500 g/head/day) plus wheat straw ad libitum, experimental rams - CFM plus corn cobs or sugar cane tops or sugar cane bagasse. Serum testosterone, glucose and total cholesterol levels were determined and semen evaluations were carried out every 15 days. Testicular size, scrotal circumference and body weight were recorded each month. At the end of the experiment, 12 rams were allowed to mount 114 healthy ewes to evaluate pregnancy rates. Body weight, daily weight gain, testicular size and scrotal circumference increased significantly in the treated groups. An increase was also observed in testosterone level, semen volume, as well as motility and percentages of live spermatozoa. Experimental rams yielded higher pregnancy rates (83.33%, 86.67% and 81.48%, respectively) than controls (74.07%). The agricultural byproducts used had a beneficial effect on weight gains and reproductive performance of Saidi rams.
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