Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
July 2016 Vol. 5(7): pp. 263-276
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of Feeding Treatments on Productive and Reproductive Performance of She-Camels

T.H. Mostafa, A.M. Abd El-Salaam, Mona E. Farag and M.M. Refaei

Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

Email: dr.tarekhassan@yahoo.com

Accepted 08 June, 2016

Abstract

Total of 27 She-camels at late pregnancy were allocated to 9 dietary treatments, including T1: 60% rice straw (RS), T2: 30% RS+30% berseem hay (BH), T3: 40% RS+20% BH, T4: 60% bagasse (BA), T5: 30% BA+30% BH, T6: 40% BA+20% BH, T7: 60% Atriplex halimus (AX), T8: 30% AX+30% BH and T9: 40% AX+20% BH. Concentration of total proteins (TP), albumin (AL), globulin (GL), glucose, progesterone (P4) and estrogen (E2), activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in blood serum during pre- and 2 and 4-wk post-partum (PP), reproductive performance measurements including live body weight (LBW) at 1^st service, service period (SP), number of services/conception (NSC), conception rate (CR), gestation period (GP) and placental characteristics at parturition of camels, and LBW of their offsprings were recorded. Results showed that T8 showed the highest concentration of TP and GL, the lowest AL concentration and AL/GL ratio in blood serum during pre-partum. T4 showed the highest serum glucose concentration only during pre-partum. T8 and T9 showed the least NSC, the shortest SP and the highest CR (P<0.05). T1 and T4 showed the poorest reproductive parameters (P<0.05). During pre-partum, T8 showed the highest P4 and the lowest E2 concentration in blood serum. It could be concluded that utilization of Atriplex at levels of 30 or 40% with berseem hay, as camel forage (60%) during the late pregnancy and post-partum period in Egypt, successfully improved productive and reproductive performance of She-camels and growth performance of their offsprings.

Keywords: Camel, forage, Atriplex halimus, milk, reproduction, productive, offspring.