Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Animal Production

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of replacing 50% clover hay by dried or ensiled olive cake with or without fibrolytic enzymes on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, nutritive values, performance of lactating Barki ewes and their lambs, some blood components and hormonal levels. The first experiment: Twenty five rams divided into five groups (5 rams each) were used in experiment 1(digestion trial). The concentrate to roughage ratio was 60:40 and the animals were fed according to 4 % of body weight. Group one (G1; control) fed 60% concentrated feed mixture (CFM) and 40% clover hay (CH). Group two and three (G2 and G3) fed control diet with replacement of 50% of CH by dried olive cake (DOC), with adding fibrolytic enzymes (2g/h/d) to the diet of G3. The half quantity of CH was replaced by silage olive cake (SOC) in the diets of group four and five (G4 and G5), with adding fibrolytic enzymes (2g/h/d) only for G5. The second experiment, fifty five late pregnant Barki ewes (average 2-4 years and average body weight 45 kg) were used. Ewes were divided randomly to five equal groups and fed the experimental rations. The third experiment using twenty five of Barki male lambs (average body weight of 24kg ± 0.8kg and 4-5 months of age) were divided into 5 similar groups (5 lambs each) and were fed the experimental rations. The digestibility of DM, OM, CF and NFE were insignificantly (p>0.05) improved in the experimental rations compared with the control. Digestion coefficient, of CP and EE in rations were higher significantly (p<0.05) compared to the control ration

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