Sunflower Seeds on Feeding Lactating Zaraibi Goats

INTRODUCTION

Goat is one of the most important livestock species in rural areas. In Sudan, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia researches showed that goats are reared for their meat, milk or both meat and milk (Gaddour et al., 2007; El-Hassan El-Abid et al., 2008; Arain et al., 2010 and Mousa, 2011).

Sunflower is popular with small-scale communal farmers because it is an easy crop to produce. The general practice is to plant sunflower and leave it to grow on its own with little inputs and weeding. Sunflower is known to be an efficient user of residual fertilizer because of its extensive root system (Chiduza et al., 1995). Therefore the crop does well in a rotation following a well-fertilized crop.

Protein is the most expensive feed ingredient in animal ration and there was always shortage in its supply particularly in developing countries. This shortage is very critical in both human and animal nutrition (Yagoub and Babiker, 2009). Traditionally, the farmers have been using cottonseed cakes for feeding their livestock as a source of vegetable protein and its prolonged use can affect the fertility of these animals (Zahid et al., 2003). Earlier investigators (Ahmed et al., 2004 and Garcia et al., 2004) indicated that sunflower meal has good effect on performance; yet, the cost of sunflower meal based rations was the lowest.

To cover the required nutrients for goats, energy and protein of their feed should be increased, as these dairy animals have a small rumen capacity. Green fodders, including silage, high in fiber and/or water are low energy and protein components. On the other hand, grain, seed fats (sunflower, soybeans) contribute to increased energy intake of goats and flours of defatted oilseeds in the diet increase protein intake (Antunac et al., 2001).

Ruminants have unique ability to utilize the fibrous material through anaerobic fermentation (Kibria et al., 1991); therefore, sunflower seed meal (SFM) can be efficiently used as a sole source of supplemental protein for ruminants (Lardy and Anderson, 2002). Cottonseed cakes (CSC) are being traditionally used in the feed of dairy animals. However, limited supply and seasonal availability of CSC result in high price. On the other hand, SFM is cheaper protein source and can be used in ruminants feed supplements (Yunus et al., 2004).

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of partially replacing concentrate feed mixture (CFM) containing cottonseed cake in the diet with two levels of sunflower seed (15 and 20%) on chemical composition, digestibility coefficients, rumen liquor parameters and live body weight of Zaraibi goats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was carried out at Sakha Experimental Station, belonging to the Animal Production Research Institute,AgriculturalResearchCenter, Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture,MansouraUniversityduring the period from December 2008 to December 2010.

Animals and experimental groups:

Total of 30 local breed (Zaraibi) goats (42.46±0.86 kg LBW and 4-5 years of age) were used in this study. At the late stage of pregnancy (last month of pregnancy, January 2009), goat does were divided into three similar groups (10 in each) according to their LBW and age. Goat does in the 1^st group (G₁, control) were fed a basal ration contained 25% CFM and 75% fresh berseem (FB, Trifloium alexanrium) during winter feeding period or 50% CFM and 50% berseem hay (BH) during summer feeding period according to the NRC feeding requirements (NRC, 2001) for production of 1-2 kg milk/head/day. The CFM consisted of cotton seed cake, linseed cake, yellow corn, wheat bran, molasses, calcium chloride and common salt. The daily feed intake per doe composed of 1.250 kg CFM and 4 kg FB or 1.3 kg BH for each doe. In ration of the 2^nd group (G₂) and 3^rd group, 15 and 20% of CFM of the control ration was replaced by 15% and 20% SFS (Halianthus annuus) on DM basis, respectively.

After kidding, during the suckling period up to 90 d post-partum, does were suckled by their kids produced in each group. However, during milking period, machine milking was applied for all does. All does were kept under similar management conditions.

Experimental procedures:

During an experimental feeding period (from 30 d pre-partum up to the next mating season), does in all groups were biweekly weighed. Two digestibility trials were conducted during the experimental period to determine nutrients digestion coefficient and nutritive values of the experimental rations, during the suckling period (winter feeding) and mid of the lactation period (summer feeding). Three does from each group were chosen to determine digestibility coefficients and nutritive values of the experimental rations using acid insoluble ash (AIA) as a natural marker according to Van Keulen and Young (1977). Feces samples were taken from the rectum of each doe twice daily at 12 hour-interval during the collection period (5 days). Representative samples of the tested feedstuffs were taken at the beginning; middle and end of the collection period as well as samples of feces were taken to determine chemical analysis according to A.O.A.C. (1990).

During the digestibility trials, rumen liquor was obtained via rubber stomach tube using gentle mouth suction. Rumen liquor was sampled before feeding and at 3 and 6 hours after feeding. The samples were filtered through two layers of surgical gauze. Values of ruminal pH were determined using a pH meter (SA-720, Orion Research, Boston, MA) immediately after sampling. Then, 1 ml of saturated HgCl₂ solution was added to inhibit microbial fermentation. After acidification of rumen liquor samples using concentrated orthophosphoric acid and 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was determined by steam distillation methods as described by Warner (1964). However, determination of NH₃-N concentration was carried out according to Conway and O'Malley (1957).

Statistical analysis:

The data were subjected to statistical analysis using General Linear Models Procedures (GLMP) adapted by SPSS (2004) for windows for user’s guide with one-way ANOVA.Duncan test within program SPSS was done to determine the level of significance between the means.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Chemical composition for tested rations:

Data presented in Table (1) show that contents of EE and OMwere higher, while contents of DM, CP, and ash were lower in SFS than in CFM. Increasing OMin SFS as compared to CFM was due to ash content in SFS and CFM. However, contents of CF and NFE were nearly similar in SFS and CFM. The present results indicated that all experimental rations during winter or summer feeding were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, but winter feeding was characterized by higher CP (about 15 vs. 13%) and lower CF (about 12 vs. 16%) than those of summer feeding (Table 1). The calculated chemical composition is in agreement with the chemical composition of experimental rations obtained by Landau et al. (1995) in Damascus and Mamber goats browsing a Mediterranean shrub land. Average crude protein (CP) in treated groups was about 15 g/kg DM with feeding fresh berseem and 13.0 g/kg DM with feeding berseem hay which had enough N for microbial activities in rumen (Norton et al., 1994).

Digestibility coefficients:

During winter feeding, data in Table (2) indicated that only digestibility coefficients of DM,OMand EE were significantly increased by increasing level of SFS from 15 to 20%. However; during summer feeding, digestibility coefficients of DM,OM, CP, NFE, except CF were significantly (P<0.05) increased by increasing level of SFS. During the winter and summer feeding, nutritive value of experimental rations as TDN showed significant (P<0.05) increase by increasing level of SFS, being the highest for ration containing 20% SFS. However, the effect of SFS diets on nutritive values as TDN and DCP was significant (P<0.05) during summer feeding, being also the highest for 20% SFS diet (Table 2). These results indicated significant (P<0.05) improvement in digestibility coefficients of most nutrients and in nutritive values as TDN and DCP of ration, when 20% of CFM were replaced by SFS, in particular during summer feeding with berseem hay.

Table (1): Chemical composition of different feed ingredients and experimental rations.

It is of interest to note that digestibility coefficients of CF were not affected significantly by level of SFS during winter or summer feeding. It was found that fiber digestibility is adversely affected by dietary fat supplementation (Jenkins, 1993). In this line, Schauff et al. (1992) found that feeding flaxseed compared with sunflower seed could result in less oil being released in the rumen, which would limit the negative effect of oil on fiber digestion. Also, it was observed that digestibility coefficients of all nutrients were higher during winter than summer feeding, except for EE digestion, which showed an opposite trend. Such finding was mainly related to differences in digestibility coefficients of nutrients of FB or BH during winter and summer feeding, respectively. This difference may be due to feed intake and that whole SFS did not contained more non-nutritive lipid (Grummer and Carroll, 1988 and Schauff and Clark, 1989). Also, Min et al. (2005) found that the response to oil seeds supplementation can be high if forage quality is low and minimal if the forage quality is high as in the FB and BH.

Table (2): Average digestibility coefficients of nutrients and nutritive value (TDN and DCP) of the experimental rations (R).

El-Sanafawy (2008) found that inclusion of SFS at levels of 5 or 10% did not affect digestibility coefficients of nutrients, except that of EE, which significantly (P<0.05) improved with rations containing both SFS levels during winter or summer feeding as compared to the control ration. The present results herein indicated beneficial effects of increasing dietary level of SFS more than 10% on digestibility coefficients, whereas increasing level of SFS to 15 or 20% significantly (P<0.05) increased most nutrients in particular during summer feeding. However, Aboul-Fotouh et al. (1999) concluded that when SFS was used to replace 30% of CFM (representing 12% of total DM), digestibility coefficients of nutrients and nutritive values (TDN and DCP) were not significantly affected by oil seeds inclusion, which may suggest that increasing dietary level of SFS up to 30% may have adverse effects on digestion within the rumen.However, Park et al. (1983) found that increasing whole SFS (0, 10, 20 and 30%) in rations improved digestibility of dietary components fed toHolstein heifers.

On the other hand, no differences in digestion of DM or CP were found between growing calves fed SFM or SBM (Richardson et al., 1981). Also, Anderson et al. (1984) reported that DM digestibility was not significantly differed among cows fed rations contained 10% whole cotton seeds, 5% extruded soybean or 12% whole sunflower seeds. Moreover, Drackley et al. (1985) found that digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP and EE did not significantly differ for steers fed diet contained soybean meal + sunflower seeds plus calcium hydroxide compared to those fed soybean meal + sunflower seeds plus limestone.

In accordance with the present results on goats, Zhang et al. (2007) reported that oilseed supplementation had no effect on total tract fiber digestibility of lactating ewes. Ewes fed SFS had a higher (P<0.05) DM digestibility than those fed canola seed (CS) or control. El-Bedawy et al. (1994) found that feeding full fat sunflower or sunflower oil plus sunflower meal rations increased (P<0.05) cow digestibility of EE but had no significant effect on the other nutrient digestibility's. Aboul-Fotouh (1995) reported that oil seed supplemented diets tended to be higher in EE digestibility than other diets. The observed improve in digestibility coefficients of SFS rations as compared to the control may suggest that oilseeds are potential feed ingredients to control protozoa populations in ruminants and to increase the efficiency of dietary protein utilization (Ivan et al., 2001).

Rumen liquor parameters:

Data in Table (3) show that inclusion of SFS at both levels (15 and 20%) in rations of goats during winter feeding significantly (P<0.05) increased pH value and decreased concentration of VFAs, but did not affect ammonia concentration in ruminal liquor (RL) sampled before or post-feeding. On the other hand, only inclusion of SFS at a level of 20% in rations of goats during summer feeding significantly (P<0.05) decreased pH value and concentration of VFAs but increased ammonia concentration in RL sampled before or post-feeding.

Generally, all rumen parameters studied showed similar trend of change in all groups with sampling times. Considering the trend for some rumen parameters at 0, 4 and 7 h post-feeding, it can be noticed that acetate and propionate were increased in rumen fluid at 4 and 7 h after feeding, while pH and ammonia tended to decrease by 4 h after feeding (Badamana and Sutton, 1992). Based on these results, inclusion of SFS by both levels adversely affected pH and VFAs production in rations containing FB or BH. However, dietary inclusion of 20% SFS significantly (P<0.05) increased ammonia concentration with diets contained BH.

Table (3): Effect of feeding experimental rations on rumen liquor parameters at each of sampling time.

In this respect, Jenkins (1993) reported that vegetable oil often depress animal fiber digestion. Also, the present results showed insignificant effect of SFS diets on CF digestibility coefficients during winter and summer feeding. In accordance with the present results, El-Sanafawy (2008) on zaraibi goats, revealed that diets contained sunflower seed at 5 or 10% reduced pH value of rumen liquor (RL) to 6.59 and 6.41 as compared to 7.10 in the control, respectively. However, concentration of ammonia-N increased to 23.42 and 24.32 mg/100 ml RL as compared to 22.31 mg/100 ml RL in the control, respectively. Yet, concentration of VFA decreased to 14.68 and 13.86 meq/100 ml RL as compared to 16.60 meq/100 ml RL in the control. Such findings may indicate marked effect of SFS as a source of protein and energy rather than their levels on rumen fermentation. These findings could be explained by the negative effect of free fatty acids on fermentation, which might be attributed to defaundation that could increase duodenal bacterial-N flow by decreasing protozoal predation of ruminal bacteria and competition for substrates between these microorganisms (Jopuany and Ushida, 1999 and Khattab et al., 2001). Fierez et al. (2003) and Boeckaert et al. (2004) found that the reduction in TVFA’s concentration might be due to lower cellulose digestibility. Also, Kitessa et al. (2001) and Jones et al. (2003) reported that a reduction in TVFA’s could also be related to the reduced feed intake. Kucuk et al. (2004) reported that total ruminal VFA concentrations changed (cubic, P=0.01) with increased dietary soybean oil by decreasing by 7.4% when soybean oil was increased from 0 to 3.2%, then increasing by 20.5% when soybean oil was increased to 6.3%, and finally decreasing by 32.2% when dietary soybean oil was increased to 9.4%. The most pronounced effects on VFA concentration occurred with the 6.3% soybean oil diet.

Live body weight:

Data presented in Table (4) show that the differences in live body weight (LBW) among the experimental groups were not significant at late pregnancy (30 d pre-partum), during suckling period (0 – 90 d post-partum) and even during milking period (90-225 d). Also, there was a similar trend of changes in LBW of does within each group at different experimental periods. Does in all groups showed marked reduction in LBW between 30 d pre-partum and 15 d postpartum. The sharp decrease in LBW resulted from kidding and removal of fetus and its attachments (embryonic membranes and fluids). Similar to the present results, the negative correlation between milk production and body weight changes was reported on Zaraibi does fed diets supplemented with different types of calcium salt fatty acids (CSFA) (Hassan et al., 2012) or fed diets contained 5 or 10% SFS.

Table (4): Effect of feeding experimental rations on live body weight (kg) of does during pre- and post-partum and milking periods (means ± SE) .

Also, Zambom et al. (2003) revealed a 16.42 to 20.72% reduction in body weight of ewes had occurred after lambing. However, during suckling and milking periods, they severed from slight loss in LBW due to milk production. During the physiological stress of milk production particularly during the peak of lactation, goats tended to have no increase or may loss of body weight (Dapoza et al., 1999 and Olsson et al., 1999). They indicated that animals did not gain weight or may lose weight during lactation, especially up to peak of lactation. Morand-Fehr et al. (1992) had already analyzed variations in body reserves in goats during a cycle of reproductive and during the growth period, methods of assessing them, the relationships between body condition and goat performance and various uses of body conditions. A body condition score method based on body palpations is difficult to work out in goats because of a lack of subcutaneous adipose tissue in this species. Djibrillou et al. (1998) observed continued loss of body weight in goats throughout lactation in Red Sokoto goat in Niger Republic, and cotton seed supplementation did not prevent weight loss throughout eight-week long lactation. Recently, Otaru et al. (2011) found that the weight loss of goats was numerically more with higher levels of palm oil supplementation which might have been due to lower DM and hay intake.

In accordance with the present results in other species, Richardson et al. (1981) found no differences in growth performance between growing calves fed SFM or SBM. In ewes, El-Shahat and Abo-El Maaty (2010) identified that dietary supplementation of CSFA enhanced body growth as indicated by increased final body weight and body condition score. However, Purushothaman et al. (2008) found non-significant effect of feeding ration containing palm oil on average adjusted values for body weight gain/day. In cows, Schauff and Clark (1989) observed similar weight loss and attributed it to decreased DM intake, while in ewes; it was associated with decreased forage intake (Casals et al., 2006).

It could be concluded that replacing 20% of CFM by sunflower seeds has beneficial effects on digestibility coefficient and nutritive values without marked change in ruminal liquor parameters and goat performance in Zaraibi lactating goats.

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Read Part II: Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Whole Sunflower Seeds on Feeding Lactating Zaraibi Goats: II. On Milk Production and Composition as well as Mammary Gland Histology and Economic Efficiency