SUMMARY
Thirty Zariabi goats weighing on average of 49 Kg in their late pregnancy
period were randomly assigned into three groups. The effects of formaldehyde
treatment of soybean meal and heat treatment of soybean seeds on some rumen
parameters, blood constituents and milk production and its composition. Kids
performance (birth weight, weaning weight and body weight gain) was also studied.
Trial laseted 7 weeks before kidding and 12 weeks after kidding.
The obtained results indicated that yields of milk, 4% fat-corrected milk (4%
FCM) and its components were higher (P<0.05) when goats were fed formaldehyde
treated soybean meal (F-SBM) or heated soybean seeds (H-SBS) diet than those fed
untreated soybean meal (U-SBM) diet. Milk non-protein nitrogen and rumen
ammonia nitrogen concentrations were lower (P<0.05) on F-SBM or H-SBS diets.
On the other hand, yields of true protein nitrogen, casein nitrogen and unsaturated
fatty acids in milk were higher (P<0.05) for goats fed protected protein than those
fed unprotected protein. The concentration of plasma urea nitrogen was decreased
when goats were given protected protein either by formaldehyde or heat than those
fed the unprotected one, whereas the concentrations of total protein, albumin and
globulin were increased. Birth weight and weaning weight of kids were improved
(P<0.05) for goats receiving diets containing F-SBM or H-SBS than those receiving
diet contained U-SBM.
On the light of the above-mentioned results, this study recommended the use of
protected protein in formulating rations for Zaraibi goats during late pregnancy and
milk production during their kidds suckling periods.