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Abstract
The present study was carried out at Faculty of Agriculture, El-Bostan farm, Damanhour University during 2011-2012. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of the supplementation of black cumin seeds and ginger powder to the diet of peri-parturient and lactating ewes on blood hematology, blood biochemical parameters, milk yield, its composition as well as their performance and performance of their lambs. Fifteen Crossbred ewes, aged 3-5 years old and weighing an average of 48.5 Kg, were divided into 3 groups; one control and 2 experimental. Ewes in the control group were fed on basal diet only. The second group was fed on basal diet supplemented with black seed (Nigella Sativa) at a rate of 5g-daily/animal. The third group was fed on basal diet supplemented with ginger (Zingiber officinale) at a rate of 5g-daily/animal. The supplementation of herbal plants continued during experiment period two months before parturition to three months after parturition.
Blood samples were taken biweekly until weaning (in the morning before feeding) from the external jugular vein while Milk samples were taken every week postpartum until weaning. Daily milk yield was measured from parturition to weaning. Lambs were weighed every 15 days from parturition till weaning. The main results could be summarized as follows:
1. Milk yield increased insignificantly during lactation period in the treated groups compared to the control and results were higher in the ewes fed ginger powder supplementation than the ewes fed Nigella sativa seeds supplementation.
2. The highest recorded daily milk yield was in the 2nd week for all groups, and then it decreased gradually to record its lowest level in 14th week (drying).
3. In 10th week, Milk yield increased significantly in ginger powder group compared to control.
4. Colostrum total solid of Nigella Sativa group was significantly greater than that of the control group.
5. Milk fat % increased significantly in the treated groups compared to the control group.
6. Milk protein %, lactose % and solid not fat % improved in the treated groups compared to the control group.
7. Milk Total solid was significantly greater in animals fed herbal plants additives than the control group.
8. There was an improvement in birth weight in the treated groups as compared to the control.
9. There was an improvement in growth rate and body weight of lambs at weaning in ginger group when compared to the other groups.
10. There was an improvement in feed intake in the treated groups as compared to the control.
11. Ginger powder group had significantly higher RBCs and WBCs than the two other groups during the postpartum period.
12. Platelets of animals fed herbal plants additives were greater than the control group.
13. Ginger powder group and the control group had significantly higher WBCs than the Nigella sativa seeds group prepartiuent period.
14. Lymphocytes of animals fed herbal plants additives were greater than the control group.
15. There was a significant increase in concentration of total proteins and their fractions (albumin and globulin) in blood serum in treated groups compared to the control.
16. Serum glucose level increased significantly in treated groups in comparison to the control group while cholesterol and triglyceride levels reduced significantly in animals fed herbal plants additives.
17. Animals fed herbal plants additives had significantly less AST than the control group. On the other hand, no differences were observed regarding ALT, ALP enzymes and Urea.
18. Creatinine decreased significantly in the Nigella sativa seeds group and increased significantly in the ginger powder group compared to the control group.
19. There was insignificant improvement in T3 and T4 in the treated groups as compared to the control.
20. Total antioxidant capacity was significantly greater in ginger group compared to the two other groups.
21. Herbal plant additives resulted in significantly reduction of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in treated groups compared to the control group.
In conclusion, results of this study highlight the importance of herbal plants supplementation to ewes feed which have a positive effect on feed intake, blood parameters, milk quantity and composition as well as their performance and performance of their suckling lambs.