EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF DATE PALM (ELAEIS QUINEENSIS JACQ.) LEAVES ON THE PERFORMANCE AND SOME PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF CROSSBRED EWES
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Date
2025-02-27
Authors
Shakhshir, Ali Abdo Ali
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Abstract
This research comprised two experiments. The first experiment aimed to examine how various preparations of date palm leaves (DPL), including chopped, ensiled, and alkali-treated forms, affected the performance and reproductive efficiency of crossbred ewe lambs. A total of twenty female ewes were used at age of 6-7 months were fed the DPL at 15% of their diets for a period of 6 weeks. DPL was replaced similar percent of wheat hay in the control diet. The ewes were split into four experimental groups, with each group consisting of five ewes, and each ewe treated as a separate replicate. Ewes were fed as the following: Group 1 (G1) served as the control, consisting of 70% concentrate and 30% wheat straw, for the experimental groups G2 to G4, various forms of date palm leaves (DPL) were incorporated into the diets to replace half of the wheat straw. A digestion trial was conducted after 28 days of the feeding trial. Ewes were exposed to rams were conception rates and other reproductive traits were recorded. Prior to conception ewes were examined for blood parameters and a digestibility trial was performed. The results indicated that form of DPL had no significant effects on all study parameters. The second experiment consisting of 28 cross bred lactating ewes were used to examine the DPL forms on milk yield and quality, blood parameters and nutrient digestibility. The ewes were organized into four experimental groups, with each group containing seven ewes, and each ewe regarded as an individual replicate. Ewes were fed similar diets as in experiment 1. Results of experiment 2 indicated the lack of effects of forms of DPL on the tested parameters. In experiments 1 and 2 the economic efficiency of feeding DPL was examined. In conclusion, incorporating date palm leaves (DPL), whether in their raw or treated forms (ensiled or alkali-treated), offers significant benefits by lowering feed costs and contributing to environmental protection. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment and inclusion levels for these diets.