The Effects of Different Levels of Sunflower Hulls on Reproductive Performance of Yearly Ewes Fed with Pelleted Complete Diets

Abdualrahman S. Alharthi, Mohsen M. Alobre, Mutassim M. Abdelrahman, Hani H. Al-Baadani, Ayman A. Swelum, Rifat Ullah Khan and Ibrahim A. Alhidary
Additional contact information
Abdualrahman S. Alharthi: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mohsen M. Alobre: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mutassim M. Abdelrahman: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Hani H. Al-Baadani: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ayman A. Swelum: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Rifat Ullah Khan: College of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
Ibrahim A. Alhidary: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-9

Abstract: In this study, 84 pregnant ewes were used and randomly distributed to one of four treatments, as follows: C (control), total mixed ration (TMR) +12% SFH (S12), TMR +20% SFH (S20), and TMR +28% SFH (S28). Treatments had a significant ( p < 0.05) effect on the daily feed intake (DFI) of the ewes during the late gestation (30 d prepartum) and post-partum period, with the S12 and S20 groups having lower feed intake (35; 60%) than the C and S28 group. The DFI was significantly ( p < 0.05) low during late gestation in comparable with other periods. The results revealed that body weight (BW) at late gestation was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher than the BW at 60-days postpartum and during the mating period. Body condition score (BCS) was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher during late gestation in comparison with other periods. There was no significant effect of different levels of SFH on reproductive parameters except S/C, which was significantly higher in the S20 than other groups. Serum glucose level was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in the S20 group than the C, S12, and S28 groups during 30 days postpartum. S20 and S28 groups showed a significant ( p < 0.05) increase in glucose levels at parturition in comparison with other reproductive periods. At late gestation, a significantly ( p < 0.01) higher concentration of blood NEFA was reported for ewes from the C group compared with other groups. Furthermore, significantly lower ( p < 0.05) NEFA levels at parturition were found for ewes from the S20 group compared with the S12 group. In conclusion, TMR is not preferable to be used alone in the late gestation period. Sunflower hull can be used as a cheap source of fiber in TMR without adverse effects on health or the reproductive traits of ewes. The increasing level of sunflower hull up to 28% can affect fertility and increase the number of services per conception, probably due to its high content of lignin (phytoestrogen).

Keywords: Awassi ewes; blood biochemistry; conception; pregnancy; post-partum (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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