NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILTY, PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND SOME SERUM BIO-INDICES AS AFFECTED BY VITAMIN A AND E SUPPLEMENT TO GROWING

ABSTRACT
A total number of thirty two Ossimi male lambs (averaged 3 months old and 21.05 ± 1.06 kg
BW) were used to evaluate the influence of vitamin A and E supplement on nutrient digestibility,
productive performance and some serum bio-indices. The animals allocated into four equal groups.
The first group without supplement served as control, while the treated lamb groups T1, T2 and T3
were orally supplemented with vitamin A (50.000 IU/head/biweekly), vitamin E (400
mg/head/biweekly), and vitamin A (50.000 IU) plus vitamin E (400 mg) /head/biweekly,
respectively. The results showed no significant differences in all digestibility values of DM, OM,
CP, EE, CF, ADF, NDF and NFE among lambs received treatments T1, T2 and T3 vs. control. In
addition, averages percentages of nutritive values (DCP and TDN) were comparable for lambs
treated with T1, T2 and T3 vs. control. Averages of final body weight (FBW) and daily gain (DG)
were increased (P<0.05) for lambs of T1 and T3 compared with control or T2. The averages of FBW
and DG were greater (P<0.05) for the treatment T3 than T1 or T2. No significant differences were
noticed in wheat straw intake, dry matter intake and total dry matter intake for lambs treated with
T1, T2 and T3 vs. control. However, digestible crude protein intake and total digestible nutrients
intake increased (P<0.05) for lambs treated with T1, and T3 vs. control or T2. Feed conversion of
DMI, DCPI and TDNI were improved (P<0.05) for lambs received T1 and T3 vs. those received T2
or control, with higher (P<0.05) improvement in FC-DCPI for lambs of T3 than those received T1
or T2. Data indicated that serum total protein and globulin levels were higher (P<0.05) with all
treatments T1, T2 and T3 than control, while, serum albumin concentrations were increased (P<0.05)
with treatments T1, and T3 vs. T2 or control. No significant differences in serum concentrations of
glucose, cholesterol and AST enzyme for lambs received T1, T2 and T3 compared with the untreated
control lambs. It could conclude that supplement of vitamin A plus E has synergistic useful effect
able to improve feed intakes and feed conversion of growing lambs, enhancing their performance and develop favorable signs in some serum bio-indices.