The aim of this study was to compare the effect of using Bospro milled
fenugreek seeds and active dried yeast on milk yield and composition of lactating
ewes. Sixteen multiparous Barki ewes (weighing in average 44.S:!: 0.49 kg were
divided randomly into four equal groups (4 ewes each), belonging to the Agriculture
Experimental and Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, EI-Azhar University, Cairo. Animals were group fed according to (NRC, 1985). The control diet consisted
of concentrate feed mixture and ad-lib bean straw with no feed additives (R1). The
second group received the control diet plus 15gm/ewe/day, Bospro (R2). The third
group received the control diet plus 15gm/ewe/day, milled fenugreek seeds (R3) and
the fourth one received the control diet plus 10gm/ewe/day live dried baker's
yeast(R4). The experiment started 4 weeks before expected lambing date and continued
till the end of the lactation period. The results showed that: Ewes fed on different feed additives increased their roughage OMI by about 25,
41 and 46 % for Bospro (R2) Fenugreek (R3) and yeast (R4) rations, respectively,
compared with the control (R1) ration. Daily milk yield by ewes fed on different feed additives increased by about 10.5,
16.3 and 12.7% for R2, R3 and R4 respectively, compared with those fed on
control ration. Total solids %, milk fat% , protein% and lactose % and gross energy per kg milk
tended to increase with feeding different feed additives compared with the control
ration. Feeding different feed additives significantly (PS 0.05) improved almost all values
of nutrients digestibility compared with the control ration. Higher feeding values of
different feed additives compared with control ration were obvious. The results of rumen parameters showed reduction in ruminal PH for different
feeding treatments after 4 hrs of feeding. However, total volatile fatty acids
concentrations were noticeably increased after 4 hrs of feeding with different feed
additives compared to the control ration. Ruminal ammonia - N concentrations was noticeably increased with feeding
different feed additives compared with the control ration. It could be concluded that Bospro, Fenugreek seeds and active dried yeast could
be used in lactation ewes rations to improve their milk yield and milk composition
with decreasing feed cost. The best economical return was achieved with the
groups fed rations contained fenugreek, active dried yeast followed by the group
fed ration contained Bospro and the lowest was the control.