Influence of substituting soybean meal with moringa seed cake on feed intake, growth performance, digestibility, blood parameters and economics of fattening crossbred calves.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of substitution moringa seed cake (MSC) for soybean meal (SBM) in calves' rations on blood parameters and growth performance. Thirty-two crossbred calves (232 ± 6.75 kg) were divided into 4 groups (8 animals each). All animals were fed a ration of 30% Egyptian clover + 10% corn silage and 60% concentrate mix (CM). The first group (MSC0%) was fed the CM without any MSC (control), while the second (MSC25%), the third (MSC50%), and the fourth (MSC100%) groups were fed on 25%, 50% and 100% MSC by replacing SBM in CM respectively. Results revealed that MSC50% increased (P ≤0.05) most of nutritive values and digestibility compared with the tested groups. Also, MSC50% reduced (P ≤0.05) feed conversion of dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and digestible energy (DE) compared to the tested groups. Also, MSC50% increased the total weight gain and net revenue by 13.50% and 22.75%, respectively, compared to control. While MSC100% lowered the total weight gain and net revenue by -7.67% and -4.20%, respectively, compared to control. Total protein and glucose were increased (P ≤0.05) by rations with 25% and 50% MSC compared with MSC (0% and100%). Moreover, adding MSC to animals' rations at different levels improved most of blood metabolites compared to control. Conclusion, moringa seed cake can be used as an alternative protein source to soybean meal in fattening calves rations at level up to 50% to improve growth performance and net profit without adverse effects.

Dietary Supplementation with a Combination of Fibrolytic Enzymes and Probiotics Improves Digestibility, Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Economics of Fattening Lambs.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding different levels of the combination of fibrolytic enzymes and probiotics (a mixture of bacteria and yeast) on the performance of fattening lambs. Thirty-two male Ossimi lambs (weighing 39 ± 0.24 kg) were divided into four groups randomly (eight animals each). The first group (control ration, G1) was fed on a ration of 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM), 20% Egyptian clover (EC), and 20% wheat straw (WS). The second (G2), third (G3), and fourth (G4) groups were fed a control ration supplemented with Calfo Care® at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 kg/ton diet of dry matter (DM). Results showed that the G2 and G3 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the DM, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and ether extract digestibility compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Moreover, the G2 and G3 rations increased (p ≤ 0.05) the percentages of total digestible nutrients (TDN), starch values (SV), and digestible crude protein (DCP) compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Both the G2 and G3 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the TDN, SV, and DCP as kg/day or g/kg w0.75 and kg or g/100 kg body weight compared with the G1 and G4 rations. Conversely, the G1 ration significantly decreased the feed conversion of DM, TDN, SV, and DCP compared with the experimental groups. Furthermore, the G2, G3, and G4 rations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the total weight gain by 25.34%, 52.20%, and 3.79%, respectively, compared with the G1 ration. The G2, G3, and G4 rations also (p ≤ 0.05) increased the concentrations of most hematological parameters, including triiodothyronine, total protein, albumin, and glucose, compared with the G1 ration. Finally, the best net profit was recorded with the G3 ration, followed by the G2, G4, and G1 rations.