ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to study the possibility of using a silage
mixture made from Egyptian berseem and Panicum Mombasa on productive
and reproductive performance for male Zaraibi goats. Thirty Zaraibi kids aged 5
months and averaged 18.69 kg live body weight, were divided into three similar
groups (ten animals each) according to their ages and weights. Each animal
group was randomly fed the following experimental treatments. G1 (control
ration): consisted of 50% CFM + 50% berseem silage (BS); G2: 50% CFM +
25% BS + 25% Panicum Mombasa silage (PMS); G3: 50% CFM+ 50% PMS.
The experimental rations were formulated to caver maintenance and production
allowance according to NRC (2007). The results indicated that the highest
significant values (P<0.05) of averages as DMI, TDNI, and DCPI were
recorded for animals fed mixture silage (G2) followed by the animals fed PMS
(G3), while the animals fed BS (G1) recorded the lowest values. The animals
fed mixture silage (G2) recorded higher digestibility values of all nutrients and
nutritive values expressed as TDN than those animals fed BS or PMS alone (G1
and G3). Concerning, nutritive values expressed as DCP, it could be noticed
that animals fed mixture silage (G2) or BS (G1) recorded significantly higher
(P<0.05) than those animals fed PMS (G3). All measured blood constituents of
kids (protein, albumin, globulin, urea-N, glucose, and creatinine) were not
significantly affected by the inclusion of Panicum in tested diets. The results
also showed the experimental group fed (G2) appeared improved daily gain and
feed conversion expressed as Kg DM and TDN intake/kg gain compared with
other treatments. On the other hand, the obtained results indicated no significant
differences in respiration rate, pulse, and rectal and skin temperatures. Also, the
results indicate that the animals which high-levels of feed intake (G2) had
significantly higher values of Scrotal circumference (SC) and Testicular volume
Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci., 36 (5-6) 2021 56-71
(TV). It also found that using silage a mixture made from B and PM in diets of
growing male Zaraibi goats was the best economic efficiency.
It could be concluded that using Panicum Mombasa in any form has a
positive effect on the productive performances of kids goats, especially when
mixed with different green legumes forages as an Egyptian clover, in terms of
dry matter intake, digestibility, and feeding value, the feed utilization efficiency
of forage into daily gain, and economic efficiency makes it a diet of choice for
production and reproduction.