LAMBS RESPONSES TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENT OF RUMEN UNDEGRADABLE NITROGEN AS AFFECTED BY NIGELLA SATIVA FEED ADDITIVES

Abstract

The effect of two levels of rumen undegradable nitrogen (7 and 10 g UDN / kg DM ) and two levels of Nigella sativa (0 and 7.5 g NS / kg DM) upon live-weight gain ,feed conversion ratio and some blood parameters were investigated in a 2x2 factorial experiment . Twenty four individual Karadi male lambs were used .They were weighing approximately 34+1.22 kg and 7 months of age. Two lambs were randomly allocated from each diet in order to determine some blood parameters. There were no differences among diets in daily DM,OM,ME, RDN, NDF,ADF, lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose intake when expressed as g/day or g/kg W0.75. The live weight gain and feed conversion ratio differences were not significantly affected by increased level of UDN ., However, live weight gain and FCR were significantly improved with those lambs fed with high UDN diet supplemented with NS as compared with those fed diets without NS . Lambs fed high level of UDN significantly reduced blood sugar (BS) and increase blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as compared with those fed low level of UDN. Whereas ,level of UDN had no effect on serum uric acid (SUA) and growth hormone (H ). The results also indicated that the lambs fed diets supplemented with NS significantly increased BS,SUA and GH and reduced BUN as compared with those fed diets without NS .It was concluded that higher responses to NS additives was associated with higher level of UDN .We recommend that 7.5 g NS and 10 g UDN achieved butter live weight gain and feed conversion ratio .