The Effect of Feeding Ruminally Undegradable Protein on Postpartum Reproduction of Awassi Ewes

Kridli, R.T.,Haddad, S.G.,Muwalla, M.M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.8

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding undegradable intake protein (VIP) on body weight changes and the return to estrus of Awassi ewes during the early postpartum period. Twenty multiparous Awassi ewes $(BW=57.4{\pm}3.0kg)$ were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment (10 ewes per treatment) for 4 weeks in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and were formulated to contain either 20% (CON) or 35% (SBM) of the dietary CP as UIP. On day $9{\pm}3$ postpartum (day 0=parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens. Feed intake was recorded daily. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), crude protein intake (CPI), undegradable protein intake (UPI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) were higher (p<0.05) for ewes on SBM diets compared with ewes on CON diet. Ewes receiving SBM diet gained more (p<0.05) weight than the controls (5.3 vs 0.5 kg). There was a tendency (p>0.10) for SBM ewes to have more luteal activity than the controls. Ewes in the SBM group came into estrus 4 days earlier than CON ewes (p<0.10). These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate nutrition are capable of returning to estrus one month postpartum thus posing the possibility of being able to lamb every 6 months.

Seasonal Variation in Scrotal Circumference and Semen Characteristics of Black Bedouin and Black Bedouin-Damascus Crossbred Bucks

Kridli, R.T.,Tabbaa, M.J.,Barakeh, F.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.3

The objective of this study was to evaluate monthly variation in semen characteristics in Black Bedouin and Black Bedouin${\times}$Damascus crossbred bucks. Twenty one Black Bedouin Goat bucks (BG) and 20 $F_1$ Black Bedouin${\times}$Damascus crossbred goat bucks (CB) were used in the study. Animals were 2 to 5 years old at the beginning of the study. Body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), scrotal circumference (SC) and semen samples were evaluated monthly for all bucks. Body weight, BCS and SC differed according to month of collection (p<0.0001). Body weight and BCS were greater in the spring and summer months while SC reached their highest values during the autumn months. No differences were detected between breeds with respect to semen characteristics with the exception of ejaculate volume (p<0.05) and ejaculate appearance (p=0.053) which were greater in CB than in BG bucks. With the exception of ejaculate appearance, all semen characteristics were influenced by month of collection (p<0.05). Semen concentration and motility were better during the late summer and autumn months than during the spring. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa declined from its greatest values in the spring to its lowest values in the autumn. Results of the present study show no effects of goat breed on most of the studied parameters. In general, most semen quality parameters were better in both breeds during the autumn than the spring months. Minimal variation in semen quality was observed between the summer and autumn months indicating the ability to use bucks for semen collection and for natural breeding during both of these seasons.

Body Weight Change, Milk Production and Reproductive Parameters in Suckled vs. Non-suckled Awassi Ewes

Ishmais, M.A. Abu,Kridli, R.T.,Omer, S.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.9

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of early weaning on body weight change, milk production and the return to estrus in Awassi ewes. Twenty multiparous winter-lambing Awassi ewes were randomly assigned to either suckled (S, n=10) or non-suckled (NS, n=10) groups in a completely randomized design. Lambs in the NS group were removed from their dams on day 2 postpartum (PP). Animal body weights (BW) and body condition scores (BCS) were recorded at the beginning of the study and every 3 weeks thereafter until the end of the experiment. Milk production was estimated by machine milking at weekly intervals for 4 weeks beginning on d 11 PP. Blood samples were collected from each ewe every third day for 4 weeks beginning on day 15 PP. Initial body weight was similar for both treatments. By the end of the experiment, NS ewes gained an average of 1.8${\pm}$1.0 kg while S ewes lost an average of 7.0${\pm}$1.0 kg (p<0.001). Body condition scores followed a trend similar to that observed for BW and was greater (p<0.001) in the NS ewes. Significant correlation existed (p<0.01) between BW and BCS (r=0.77). The first milk production recording for both suckled and non-suckled was similar. Later recordings, however, showed that the S group had greater milk production (p<0.01) compared with the NS group. Lambs in the NS group were heavier (p<0.05) than those in the S group on d 10 PP. By the end of the study, lamb weights in the NS group were significantly lower (p<0.001) when compared with S group. The first rise in plasma progesterone ($P_{4}$) occurred earlier (p<0.05) in the NS than S ewes (day 27.0${\pm}$2.2 vs. 34.0${\pm}$2.2 postpartum, respectively). All of the NS ewes (10/10) and 60% (6/10) of the S ewes expressed estrus following ram introduction (p<0.05). Results of the current study indicate that non-suckled ewes gained more weight and displayed ovarian activity earlier than suckled ewes. Early lamb removal can be used to obtain biannual lambing in Awassi sheep.

Reproductive Responses of Awassi Ewes Treated with either Naturally Occurring Progesterone or Synthetic Progestagen

Husein, Mustafa Q.,Kridli, Rami T. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.9

The objective was to identify the appropriate form of progesterone, which exhibits compact reproductive responses in Awassi ewes during mid to late seasonal anestrous period. Forty-eight Awassi ewes were randomly allocated into four groups to be treated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP), 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA), 40 mg FGA, or 600 mg progesterone sponges. After a 12 day period, sponges were removed and ewes were administered i.m. with 600 IU PMSG (d 0, 0 h). Five harnessed Awassi rams were turned-in with the ewes to detect heat. Ewes were checked for breeding marks at 6 h intervals for 5 days. Blood samples were collected from all ewes for analysis of progesterone concentrations. Pretreatment (d -13 and -12) progesterone concentrations were ${\leq}0.2ng/mL$ among all ewes and were indicative of seasonal anestrous period. On d 0, progesterone concentrations were elevated to $1.4{\pm}0.1ng/mL$ in ewes received progesterone sponges only and were higher (p<0.0001) than those (${\leq}0.2ng/mL$) administered MAP or FGA sponges. Progesterone concentrations returned to their basal values of <0.2 ng/mL within 24 h of sponge removal and were similar (p>0.1) among all ewes. Incidence of estrus was similar (p>0.1) among the four groups and occurred in 75% (9/12), 82% (9/11), 67% (8/12) and 58% (7/12) of the ewes receiving MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively. Estrous responses occurred 14.7, 20 and 13.6 h earlier in progesterone-sponge-treated ewes than those of MAP- (p<0.04), 30 mg FGA- (p<0.01) and 40 mg FGA-treated (p=0.06) ewes, respectively. Induced estrus conception rates were 50% (6/12), 55% (6/11), 50% (6/12) and 42% (5/12), out of which 4/6, 4/6, 3/6 and 3/5 lambed 151 days following d 0, and were similar (p>0.1) among ewes of the four treatment groups. Ewes that returned to estrus 16 to 20 days following d 0 were 5/12, 5/11, 6/12 and 4/12 ewes treated with MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively, and all lambed 169 days later. Overall lambing rates were 75% (9/12), 82% (9/11), 75% (9/12) and 58% (7/12) ewes treated with MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively. Results demonstrate that applications of MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges Awassi ewes were equally effective in induction of estrus and tended to favor both types of FGA and MAP in overall lambing rates over progesterone sponges during the seasonal anestrous period.

The Effect of Dietary Fat Inclusion on Nutrient Intake and Reproductive Performance in Postpartum Awassi Ewes

Oqla, H.M.,Kridli, R.T.,Haddad, S.G. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.10

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary fat inclusion on nutrient intake, body weight, milk production, return to estrus, pregnancy and lambing of winter-lambing, postpartum Awassi ewes. Thirty multiparous, winter-lambing Awassi ewes (body weight=51${\pm}$7.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n=10) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, and were formulated to contain 0 (CON), 2.5 (MF), and 5% (HF) added fat, and 33% of the dietary crude protein (CP) as undegradable intake protein (UIP). On day 26 postpartum (day 0=parturition), ewes and their lambs were housed in individual pens for 28 days. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, ewes and their lambs within each treatment were combined into one group and fed their respective diet ad libitum. One fertile Awassi ram fitted with a marking harness was allowed with each group for 34 days. No significant (p>0.05) differences in dry matter intake, organic matter intake, and crude protein intake were observed for ewes fed the three experimental diets. No difference was observed in metabolizable energy intake (MEI) for ewes fed the CON and the MF diets (average 8.3 Mcal/d) diet. However, ewes fed the HF diet had greater(p<0.05) MEI compared with the rest of the treatments. Ewe body weights increased throughout the study, unaffected by the experimental diets. No significant differences in milk production were found among ewes fed the three experimental diets. No significant differences were observed in pregnancy rate (6/10, 5/10, 6/10 for CON, MF and HF diets, respectively), lambing rate and the number of lambs per ewe among the three treatments. postpartum reproductive performance of well-fed, winter-lambing Awassi ewes.

Influence of Varying Levels of Dietary Undegraded Intake Protein Intake on Nutrient Intake, Body Weight Change and Reproductive Parameters in Postpartum Awassi Ewes

Haddad, S.G.,Kridli, R.T.,Al-Wadi, D.M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.5

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary undegradable protein (UP) level on body weight change, nutrient intake, milk production and postpartum reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. Twenty-seven multiparous Awassi ewes (initial body weight = 53.3${\pm}$1.6 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (9 ewes/treatment) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous (15.5% CP), isocaloric, and were formulated to contain 17.9 (LUP), 27.1 (MUP), and 34.0% (HUP) of the dietary CP as UP. On day 10${\pm}$3 (day 0 = parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens for 5 weeks. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, animals were removed from their pens and combined into 3 separate groups (LUP, MUP and HUP). One fertile, harnessed ram was allowed with each group for 34 days. Rams were rotated every 2 days among the three groups. Each group was offered the corresponding experimental diet. Organic matter, CP, UP and metabolizable energy intakes were higher (p<0.05) for ewes fed the HUP diet compared with ewes fed the LUP and MUP diets. Ewes fed the HUP diet gained more (p<0.05) weight compared with ewes fed the MUP diet (7.3 vs. 2.1 kg), while ewes fed the LUP diet lost an average of 2.1 kg. Pregnancy rate of ewes fed the HUP diet was 100%, compared with 66 and 33% for ewes fed the MUP and LUP diets, respectively. Lambing rate was greater (p<0.05) for ewes fed HUP (8/9) diet compared with ewes fed the MUP (4/9) and LUP (3/9) diets. These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate dietary UP level consume more feed and are capable of returning to estrus shortly after parturition and are capable of producing two lamb crops per year.

Effect of Methionine Supplementation on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Awassi Ram Lambs Fed Finishing Diets

Obeidat, Belal S.,Abdullah, Abdullah Y.,Awawdeh, Mofleh S.,Kridli, Rami T.,Titi, Hosam H.,Qudsieh, Rasha I. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.6

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ruminally-protected methionine supplementation (0, 7, or 14 g/head/d) on nutrient intake, digestibility, growth performance, carcass, and meat characteristics of Awassi ram lambs fed finishing diets. Twenty four Awassi ram lambs ($16.8{\pm}1.17kg$ body weight) were randomly assigned to 3 treatment diets (8 lambs/treatment) and housed in individual pens. Lambs were given an adaptation period of 7 days before the intensive feeding period that lasted for 86 days. On day 74 of the trial, a digestibility experiment was performed. At the end of the trial (d 86), all lambs were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat quality. Increasing the level of methionine supplementation did not improve (p>0.05) performance nor feed conversion ratio. Nutrient intake and digestibilities were not influenced (p>0.05) by methionine supplementation. There were no differences in final weight, hot and cold carcass weights, dressing percentages or any of the measured non-carcass components. Tissues and fat depth measurements together with all meat quality attributes measured on longissimus muscle of the loin cut were not affected by methionine supplementation. The only meat quality parameters affected were redness (a*) and the hue angle being higher for the control group (p<0.05). These results suggest that methionine supplementation is not likely to produce any production benefits in nutrient digestibilities, performance or carcass characteristics of ram lambs fed a high performance diet.

Protocols for Estrus Synchronization in Awassi Ewes under Arid Environmental Conditions

A. Y. Abdullah,M. Q. Husein,R. T. Kridli 아세아·태평양축산학회 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.7

A New Explicit Dynamic Path Tracking Controller Using Generalized Predictive Control

Mohamed Krid,Faiz Benamar,Roland Lenain 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2017 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.15 No.1

Outdoor mobile robots must perform operations with ever-increasing speed and distance. Therefore weare interested in designing controllers of fast rovers which improve mobile robot capacity in natural environment. When designing autonomous path tracking systems for fast rovers, a major problem is the dynamic effect andthe non-linearity of the model. Several control laws have been designed to resolve the problem by separating thedynamic of the robot at the problem of trajectory tracking. This paper presents a path tracking controller for a fast rover with independent front and rear steering. In the firststep, a dynamic model of a vehicle that moves on a horizontal plane was developed. Next, the projection of theposition of the vehicle in the absolute reference frame was used to define the kinematics non-linear model. Wepresent a new approach to solving a tracking path problem by applying Non-linear Continuous-time GeneralizedPredictive Control (NCGPC). The controller is based on the dynamic model of a bicycle like vehicle which considersthe lateral slippage of the wheels. The prediction model allows anticipation of future changes in setpoints inaccordance with the dynamic constraints of the system. Experimental results, show a good control accuracy andappears to be robust with respect to environmental and robot state changes.

Stability Analysis and Memory Control Design of Polynomial Fuzzy Systems with Time Delay via Polynomial Lyapunov-Krasovskii Functional

Hamdi Gassara,Ahmed El Hajjaji,Mohamed Krid,Mohamed Chaabane 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2018 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.16 No.4

This paper investigates the problems of delay-dependent stability analysis and memory control design of polynomial fuzzy systems with time delay. Using polynomial Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and slack polynomial matrix variables, delay dependent sufficient stability and stabilizability conditions are derived in terms of sum of squares (SOS) which can be numerically (partially symbolically) solved via the recently developed SOSTOOLS. The main advantage of the proposed design is the reduction of conservatism for three great reasons. The first one is that polynomial matrices are not only dependent on the system state vector but also on the state vector with time delay. The second one is that the design conditions are formulated in delay dependent SOS. It is well known that the delay-dependent conditions are less conservative than those independent of time delay. The third one is that only correlated terms are used in the design of SOS. The simulation and comparison are given to illustrate the lesser conservativeness of the proposed result.