Effect of Chromium Dietary Supplementation on the Immune Response and Some Blood Biochemical Parameters of Transport-stressed Lambs

Al-Mufarrej, S.I.,Al-Haidary, I.A.,Al-Kraidees, M.S.,Hussein, M.F.,Metwally, H.M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.5

Forty-eight Naemi lambs (avg. BW 31.7 kg) were transported by truck for a distance of 1,450 km from Al-Jouf to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On arrival day, the lambs were randomly allocated to four groups receiving diets supplemented with 0.0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ppm organic chromium (Cr). Each group consisted of four separately housed replicates of three lambs each. The animals were fed ad libitum on a grower diet for 84 days. Blood samples were obtained shortly before transportation, upon arrival and at weekly intervals thereafter from all lambs for analysis of plasma and serum. Plasma glucose and serum cortisol, total protein, albumin, urea-N and total cholesterol concentrations were determined. A cursory clinical examination of the lambs, along with rectal temperature, was undertaken at different intervals during the experiment. The lambs were inoculated each with 2 ml i.v. chicken red blood cells (CRBC) on days 0, 21, and 42. Serum total, IgG and IgM antibody titers were determined at weekly intervals post-immunization. An in vivo intradermal hypersensitivity test was carried out on 6 lambs from each group on days 10 and 70. Transportation of the lambs resulted in a significant (p<0.001) elevation of serum cortisol, total protein and albumin levels, as well as increased plasma glucose concentration, with corresponding decrease in total cholesterol, while blood urea-N remained largely unchanged. These constituents returned to normal levels during subsequent weeks, with no significant differences in their concentrations being observed between the Cr-supplemented groups and controls. Rise in rectal temperature after transportation was reduced to a greater extent (p<0.05) in Cr-supplemented versus control lambs. Total, IgG and IgM antibody titers against CRBC rose significantly (p<0.05) during immunizations in all groups, with significantly and linearly higher (p<0.05) total and IgG titers in Cr-supplemented versus control lambs. By contrast, no significant effect due to Cr supplementation was recorded in IgG titers, which increased equally in Cr-fed and control groups. Skin thickness in response to intradermal inoculation of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was also significantly (p<0.01) increased as a result of Cr supplementation. These results indicate that dietary Cr supplementation might be useful during stress especially for enhancing immune responses in transport-stressed lambs.

Effect of Supplemental Chromium Levels on Performance, Digestibility and Carcass Characteristics of Transport-stressed Lambs

Kraidees, M.S.,Al-Haidary, I.A.,Mufarrej, S.I.,Al-Saiady, M.Y.,Metwally, H.M.,Hussein, M.F. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2009 Animal Bioscience Vol.22 No.8

A trial was conducted to study the effect of supplemental chromium (Cr) levels from a Cr-yeast source on performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics of transport-stressed lambs. Forty-eight Naemi lambs (avg. BW 31.7 kg) were transported by truck for a distance of 1,450 km. On arrival day, the lambs were randomly allocated to four groups receiving diets supplemented with 0.0, 0.3, 0.6 or 0.9 ppm Cr. Each group consisted of four separately housed replicates of three lambs each. The lambs were fed their respective diets ad libitum for 84 d (21 d stress period, followed by 63 d growing period). Road transit of lambs resulted in a decreased (p<0.001) live body weight of 8.5%. Supplementation of Cr-yeast did not alter the performance of lambs during the stress period. Linear and quadratic increases (p<0.05) were observed in DMI and ADG, respectively, with increasing supplemental Cr levels in the diets during the growing period. Values were greater (p<0.05) by 14.7% and 20.8%, respectively, for lambs fed 0.3 ppm Cr compared to control, while those fed on the other two levels were intermediate. Over the 84-d feeding period, a trend was noted towards a slight increase in loin eye area and a decrease in body wall fat thickness for lambs fed Cr supplementation compared to the control group. This study suggests that the supplementation of Cr-yeast, especially at 0.3 ppm level, is beneficial for improving the performance of growing lambs whether the animals are stressed or not.

The Utilization of Rumen Content-Barley Meal in Diets of Growing Lambs

Abouhief, M.A.,Kraidees, M.S.,Al-Selbood, B.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1999 Animal Bioscience Vol.12 No.8

The nutritive value of rumen contents and barley mixture (4:1 w/w; RCB) was evaluated and the effect of their feeding on growth performances in Najdi lambs was studied. A metabolism trial was conducted with 16 rams divided into four dietary groups. The diets were: a whole-mixed control diet and three diets where RCB was incorporated at the rates of 25, 50 and 100%, replacing an equal amount of control diet. The results showed that there was a depression (p<0.05) in DM digestibility for the 100% RCB diet in comparison with other diets. The digestibility of CP was higher(p<0.05) for the 25% RCB diet as compared to the control diet; there was a trend for a small (p>0.05) decrease in digestibility as level of RCB increased. Lambs in all studied diets were in positive nitrogen balance; the differences between diets were not significant. A total of 45 lambs were allotted into three groups and used to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of RCB (0, 25 and 50%) on growth performance and carcass traits. Daily DM intake, final body weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not different among treatments. Average weight gain and ether extract (EE) in 9-11th control joint were higher (p<0.05) in lambs fed control diet than those fed RCB diets. The substitution of RCB for 50% of control diet exhibited 11.8% reduction in feeding cost for each kg of body weight gain.

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY ENERGY AND POSTMORTEM ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON MEAT QUALITY AND COLLAGEN CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMB CARCASSES

Abouheif, M.A.,Al-Saiady, M.Y.,Kraidees, M.S.,Basemaeil, S.M.,Al-Suwaid, A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1995 Animal Bioscience Vol.8 No.6

Sixty ram lambs, weighting 23.5 kg, were randomly assigned in a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement of two dietary energy (high; 11.7 and low; 9.0 MJ ME/kg DM) and three levels of poultry offal meal supplementation (0, 5 and 10%). Lambs were fed ad libitum for 120-day before slaughter. At slaughter, half the lambs in each dietary treatment group were randomly selected for electrical stimulation of their undressed carcasses. The M. Biceps femoris pH and temperatures were monitored at 1, 3, 5, 8 and 24 h postmortem. At 24 h postmortem, the M. biceps femoris was removed from the fight side of each carcass and steaks were obtained for determination of Warner-Bratzler shear force, collagen content and collagen solubility. The results showed that temperature and pH values during the 24-h postmortem were consistently higher (p < .01) and lover (p < .01), respectively, for M. biceps femoris from lambs fed high energy diets than for those fed on low energy diets. Muscles from high energy fed lambs had lower (p < .01) shear force values and higher (p < .01) percent soluble collagen than for low energy fed lambs; total collagen content was not significantly influenced by dietary energy level. Increased the level of poultry offal meal supplementation in the diet to 10% was associated with concomitant increases (p < .01) in muscle tenderness and percent soluble collagen. Electrical stimulation (ES) of carcasses resulted in a lower shear force values for the M. biceps femoris than in non-stimulated carcasses (Non-ES); total collagen content and percent soluble collagen were not significantly affected by ES treatment.

Effect of Feeding Olive Cake in Complete Diet on Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Lambs

Owaimer, A.N.,Kraidees, M.S.,Al-saiady, M.,Zahran, S.,Abouheif, M.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.4

Forty-five Najdi ram lambs were equally and randomly allotted to five dietary groups with three replications per diet to evaluate the effect of feeding olive cake in complete diet on nutrient digestibility, growth performance and carcass characteristics. The diets were: a whole-mixed control diet (C) containing 12% wheat straw and four diets; namely O, ON, OU and OUE, where crude olive cake, 3% NaOH-treated olive cake, 5% urea-treated olive cake (U) and ensiled U, respectively were incorporated to replace the wheat straw of C diet. The results showed that the digestibility of DM, CP, EE and NFE and TDN were higher (p<0.05) in OUE diet as compared to the control diet; there were no changes (p>0.05) in the corresponding values between O, ON and OU diets. The nutrient digestibilities, body weight gain, feed efficiency and Longissimus area were significantly (p<0.05) lower in ON diet as compared to other experimental diets. Average daily DM intake and weight gain were higher (p<0.05) in lambs fed O, OU and OUE diets than those fed C diet. The moisture and protein contents in the soft tissue from ON treatment were lower (p<0.05) than those tissues from C, O, OU and OUE treatments. In conclusion, these results indicated that crude olive cake is a better substitute of wheat straw when fed to growing lambs.

Effects of Feeding Monensin in Combination with Zeranol Implants on Performance, Carcass Traits and Nutrient Digestibility of Growing Lambs

Owaimer, A.N.,Kraidees, M.S.,Al-Saiady, M.,Zahran, S.,Abouheif, M.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.9

Thirty-six Naeimi ram lambs were equally and randomly allotted to four treatment groups with three replications per treatment to determine the simple and additive effects of monensin and zeranol on growth performance, carcass characteristics and nutrient digestibility. The treatment groups were: basal diet-fed lambs (C), monensin-fed lambs (M) where the basal diet was supplemented with 33 mg monensin per kilogram DM, lambs implanted with 12 mg zeranol (Z), and monensin-fed lambs implanted with zeranol (MZ). Lambs fed monensin-containing diet consumed 10.5% less (p<0.05) DM/100 kg weight and were 8.3% more (p<0.05) efficient in converting feed than lambs fed control diet. Zeranol implanted lambs tended to grow 35.2% (p<0.05) faster, consumed 5.1% more (p<0.05) feed and were (p<0.05) 21.9% more efficient in their feed conversion than control lambs. Responses of lambs to monensin and zeranol implants were not additive. Except for Z treatment, there were no marked differences in all carcass characteristics among the various treatment groups. Z-lambs produced 12.7% heavier (p<0.05) carcasses compared with those from C treatment. Also fat parameters, namely, kidney and pelvic fat (KP), body wall thickness and fat thickness, indicated trends for higher finish in Z treatment lambs (p<0.05) than for those lambs from other treatments. Except for CF and ADF, no significant differences in nutrients digestibility were noticed between various treatments; feeding monensin resulted in 24.5% and 8.5% depressions (p<0.05) in CF and ADF digestibility, respectively in comparison to C treatment. Nitrogen retention as percentage of total N-intakes was averaging 7.5 and 20.2% higher (p<0.05) in lambs implanted with zeranol than those fed the M and C diets, respectively.

Influence of Inclusion of Salicornia Biomass in Diets for Rams on Digestion and Mineral Balance

Abouheif, M.A.,Al-Saiady, M.,Kraidees, M.,Eldin, A. Tag,Metwally, H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.7

A metabolism trial was conducted with 28 Najdi rams allocated into seven dietary groups to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of Salicornia bigelovii Torr biomass on nutrient digestibility, rumina I fluid metabolites and nitrogen and mineral balances. Either the stems (ST) or spikes (SP) of this seawater-irrigated halophyte were incorporated into complete diets at rates of 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels, replacing equal amounts of rhodesgrass hay in a ground mixed control diet. Digestibility of DM, OM, EE, NFE and fecal and urinary nitrogen were not affected by increased level of ST in the diet. As level of ST increased from 0 to 20% in the diets, CP digestibility and nitrogen retention approached their maximum (p<0.01), whereas CF digestibility reached its minimum (p<0.01). On the other hand, except for EE, digestion of all nutrients and nitrogen retention were linearly depressed (p<0.01) as SP increased in the diets from 10 to 30% level. Concentration of ammonia-N, total VFA and pH values in the rumen fluid were lower (p<0.01) with the ST- or SP-fed diets than with the control diet. Increasing level of ST or SP in the diet was associated with an increase (p<0.01) in the proportion of acetate and a decline (p<0.01) in molar percentage of propionate in the ruminal fluid. Sodium absorption increased (p<0.01) with increased ST and SP in the diets up to the 10 and 20% level, respectively, followed by constant absorption values up to the 30% level. When the level of ST in the diet gradually increased to 30%, a concomitant increased (p<0:01) in Ca and P absorption were obvious; whereas, increased level of SP in the diets from 0 to 30% resulted in noticeable (p<0.01) depression in Ca and P apparent absorption.