STUDIES ON USING BIOGEN - ZINC ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RUMINANTS. 1- PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF DAMASCUS GOATS TO DIET SUPPLEMENTATION WITH BIOGEN-ZINC.

ABSTRACT
A total of 36 of Damascus does aged 1.5-2 years and weighed 45.7±1.64 kg were used to define the influence of Biogen –Zinc (BZ) supplementation on oestrus characteristics , ovarian activity, progesterone concentration, reproductive performance and some blood metabolites of Damascus does. Does were randomly divided into three equal groups (12 each). The first group (G1) fed basal ration composed of 60% concentrate, feed mixture (CFM) plus 20% clover hay and 20% rice straw and served as control. The other two groups fed the same basal ration supplemented daily with Biogen–Zinc (BZ) at levels 0.5 g/h/d (25 mg Zn) and 1.0 gm/h/d (50 mg Zn) g/h/d, respectively.
Results indicated that does treated with BZ at level 0.5gm (G2) had significantly (P≤ 0.05) more oestrus (91.67 %), while those treated with 1.0 gm (G3) had insignificant increase in oestrus (83.33%) compared to the control group (75 %). The duration of oestrus showed the longest (P≤ 0.05) time (28 h) on does treated with BZ at level of 0.5 gm (G2 ), followed by does treated with BZ at level of 1.0 gm (G3) (25.8 hr) compared to untreated does (G1) (19.2 hr). The interval from treatment to onset of oestrus (time to oestrus) was significantly (P≤ 0.05) shorter with does in G 3 and G2 than those in control group (G1). Day of oestrus was significantly (P≤ 0.05) shorter in the does treated with BZ (G3 and G2) than control (G1). The non-return to oestrus was significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher in G3 than G1.The does treated with BZ at level 1.0 gm (G3) increased (P≤ 0.05) total number of ovulatory cycle and number of oestrus ovulatory cycles compared to the control does. The number of anoestrus ovulatory cycles / doe were significantly (P≤ 0.05) decrease in G2 and G3 compared to the control group (G1). Anoestrus ovulatory cycle (%) showed insignificant lowering in the does in G3 than G1 and G2.
At pre-oestrus period, progesterone (P4) concentration in blood plasma was significantly (P≤ 0.05) increased in the treated does of G3 while insignificantly increased in G2 compared to G1. At 4, 8 and 30 days post mating, P4 concentration was higher (P≤ 0.05) in G2 and G3 than that of G1.
Supplementation of BZ significantly (P<0.05) improved conception rate, fertility, fecundity, kidding rate, reproductive ability, does kidded /does conceived, kids born per does joined and kidded and kg of kids born or weaned per does joined.
Biogen-Zinc supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased blood total protein, albumin, urea, creatine, creatinine, total lipids, AST, T3, zinc, iron, calcium and phosphorus concentrations during different physiological stages as compared to the control does. Meanwhile, it was significantly (P<0.05) increased globulin, glucose, cholesterol, ALT, triglyceride, T4 concentrations and A/G ratio, during pregnancy and lactation periods while the increase during mating period was not significant.