EFFECT OF DIETARY POMEGRANATE PEEL (PUNICA GRANATUM) SUPPLEMENTATION ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE STATUS OF FRIESIAN DAIRY COWS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

2 Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt .

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding different levels of pomegranate peel (2,3 and 4%) to dairy cows diets on milk production, chemical composition, digestion coefficients, decomposition rate of dry matter, rumen parameters  and some blood  serum  measurements parameters  and immune bodies  of  dairy cows. Sixteen crossbreed Friesian cows  in the first week of lactation were randomly chosen  used in the third or fourth season  and divided into four groups (each group 4 cows) with the Latin square design (4x4) (28 days for each period ) . The groups were fed the following  rations  (1)- control  ration  (40% concentrate feed mixture + 40% corn silage + 20% rice straw. (2)  control  ration  + 2% pomegranate peel . (3) - control ration  + 3% pomegranate peel . (4)- control ration  + 4% pomegranate peel . The rations  were formed in according to  NRC, (2001) . Three Barki  rams were used for digestion tests and three  Barki ewes with rumen fistula   were used to measure rumen activity and estimate the rate of decomposition of dry matter and rumen protein. The results showed  that the  ration  containing   2% of pomegranate peel  Significant (P<0.05)  improved digestion coefficients and  nutritive   value  with an increase in the concentration of ammonia and rumen volatile fatty acids with an increase in the rate of decomposition of both dry matter and rumen protein compared to the levels of other pomegranate peel . The diet containing 2% of pomegranate peel  increased (P<0.05) the  milk 4%FCM  production  .  The results of blood serum measurements  were  within the normal levels and without any health impact negative on animals. The  ration  containing   2%, 3% and 4% pomegranate peels showed an increase in the antioxidant activity and  immune bodies of the blood serum compared to the control ration. This study concluded that pomegranate peels  at the level of 2% can be used for dairy  cow rations  to increase digestibility coefficients , nutritive values and increasing milk yield of  dairy cows without any harm to the productivity and health of animals. Further long-term studies on lactating animals are recommended to confirm the results obtained. In the current study.  
 

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