Summary
This research was conducted to evaluate effects of the dietary
supplement with chamomile flowers on the productive performance of
Egyptian Zaraibi does and their newly born kids. Ninety pregnant does
were divided into three equal groups ( G1, G2 and G3 ) and fed according
to NRC (1981) allowances where diets contained 0, 5 and 10g
chamomile/100 kg BW/day, respectively. The results showed minor
differences in body weight of does during late pregnancy until weaning
kids. Litter size increased, but insignificantly, with chamomile supplement
Alive kids per doe, especially at weaning, increased significantly
due to chamomile supplement. The mortality rate of born kids was
estimated as 13.5% in G2 and 10.4% in G3 vs. 19.3% in the control
group. Kids weights increased with chamomile especially male kids.
Accordingly, output measured as kilograms produced per doe per year
improved significantly due to chamomile supplement.
The digestive disturbances symptoms on born kids (diarrhea and
bloat) were clearly reduced in G2 and G3 groups than in G1.