EFFECT OF SOME MEDICAL HERBS ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING ZARAIBI GOATS

Thirty does of Zaraibi goats were chosen at the third and fourth season of lactation, and randomly divided into five similar groups (6 does for each) according to their live body weight (33.75 ±0.42 kg) and fed the experimental rations for 4 months (one month before parturition to 3 months after parturition) as an experimental period to investigate the effects of including rosemary or laurel herbs as natural feed additives in their rations, on digestibility, productive performance, milk production and some blood parameters of goats. Rosemary dry leaves (RDL) or laurel dry leaves (LDL) were added to the concentrate feed mixture (CFM) portion of the rations at levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 0.5 and 1% along the whole duration of the experiment. Each group was assigned randomly to feeding one of experimental rations where R1(control): received 60% CFM +40% berseem fresh (BR), R2: 60% CFM +40% BR+ 0.5% rosemary dry leaves (RDL), R3: 60% CFM +40% BR+ 1% RDL and R4: 60% CFM +40% BR+ 0.5% laurel dry leaves (LDL), R5: 60% CFM +40% BR+ 1% LDL. The feed allowances were calculated according to NRC (2007) for goats. Five digestibility trials were performed to evaluate the nutrient digestibilities and feeding values of the experimental rations. Results indicated that chemical composition of RDL and LDL were contained (5.78, 7.86), (21.09, 22.73), (7.87, 8.01), (57.83, 56.84), (7.43, 4.56) % for CP, CF, EE, NFE and ash, respectively. The essential oil content in LDL was markedly higher than that found in RDL (2.60 vs. 2.00%, respectively). The addition of RDL (both levels) and LDL (low level) led to an insignificant improvement in the digestibility of nutrients in comparison with those of the control one (R1). Otherwise the high level LDL (R5) caused significant increases in all nutrient digestibilities compared with those of control (R1). Similar trend was observed with the feeding values as TDN& DCP. Live body weight and change in body weight of Zaraibi does during late pregnancy and suckling periods was improved by supplementation of the two experimental herbs. Milk yield during suckling (period) was reached the peak at the 6^th week of lactation in all treatments. Daily milk yield of the four tested rations (R2, R3, R4 & R5) were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with that of control one (R1), being the highest value was occurred with R5 (1.420 kg). Mostly, no significant differences were noticed among experimental rations in all milk constituents except those of fat and total solids percentages which appeared to be significant higher in most tested rations than those of control one (R1). Live body weight of kids at birth didn’t significantly affected by dietary treatments, while weaning weight, total weight gain and average daily gain were significant higher with R3 and R5 tested rations than those of control one (R1) and the other tested ones (R2 & R4). No significant differences among treatments in respect of blood total protein, albumin, globulin, ALT, AST, urea and HDL-c concentrations were observed, while total lipid, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, creatinine and LDL-c  concentrations were somewhat decreased with tested rations particularly on R5 ration compared with those of control one. Concerning blood plasma TAC, its values were insignificant increased with the low level RDL and LDL rations R2 & R4, but significant increased with the high level RDL and LDL rations R3 & R5 compared with the value of control (R1). The TDMI and TDNI were slightly higher in all tested rations (R2 up to R5) than those of control one (R1) with pre-partum and post-partum stages. Economic return was tangibly improved by feeding the tested rations that contained the experimental herbs, especially with those having 1% RDL and LDL in comparison with control one and the other tested ones. It could be concluded that feeding on rations contained RDL or LDL (i.e. 1% of CFM), could be recommended for lactating Zaraibi goats due to the positive effect on productive performance, health status and profitability.