MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN WATERMELON VINES AND ITS EFFECT ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING GOATS

This experimental work amid to investigate the effect of pesticide residues contaminate watermelon vines on productive performance of lactating goats and quality of their milk. The study based on the partial or total replacement of berseem hay (BH) by watermelon vines hay (WMVH) either untreated or biologically treated with fungus (Trichoderma reesie) in the rations of lactating goats. The test included a feeding trial and in vitro gas production estimation. Twenty-five lactating goats 2-4 years old and 30.58 ±1.23 kg body weight were assigned randomly to five groups (five each) using a randomized complete block design. The first group fed ration contained concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus BH (1:1) and served as control (R1), while groups R2, R3, R4 and R5 were fed rations contained two levels 25 or 50% of watermelon vines hay either untreated (WMVH) or biological treated with fungus Trichoderma reesie (WMVF) (50 and 100 % from BH in the ration), respectively. Results showed that WMVF had higher values of CP and ash contents than those of untreated one but closer to CP percentage in berseem hay, (14.57 vs. 12.76%, CP), respectively. While the treated WMVF recorded lower values of CF, NDF and ADF than the untreated one. The treated watermelon vines with fungus showed lower values of pesticide residues compared with untreated one. The pesticide residues in milk of goats fed rations contained WMVH treated with fungus (R4 and R5) showed zero (not detectable) values compared with other rations having the untreated WMVH. Goats fed the R4 ration (50% CFM + 25% BH+25% WMVF) had comparable yields of actual milk, 4%-FCM, fat and protein, to those of control one (R1), while being significantly higher than the other tested groups. The milk constituent concentration mostly had similar trends to milk yield among the experimental treatments. Also, R4 ration recorded the best value of feed conversion and the best relative economic efficiency compared with the other experimental groups. Daily gain of kids from birth up to weaning was significantly (P<0.05) higher with R4 ration than kids fed the other tested ones, while its increase than control group was not significant. The NH3-N concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher with R4 than rations R3 and R5 but similar with R2 and control rations. Also, the highest values of TVFA's concentrations were observed with R4 compared with other tested rations but similar with control. Molar proportions of individual VFA were mostly affected significantly by some dietary treatments without clear trends among the experimental rations. The rations that formulated with treated WMVF (R4 and R5) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower values of CO2 and CH4 than those of R2 and R3 that formulated with the untreated WMVH. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, creatinine concentrations, serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were almost decreased significantly with animals fed R4 ration than other tested rations, while the values of R4 were similar to those of the control ration. Also, the serum total protein and albumin were similar between control and each of R4 and R5, but significantly higher than R2 and R3. So, it could safely recommend introducing the WMVH treated with fungus to rations of lactating goats up to 25% (replaced 50% of berseem hay) to improve milk yield and composition without any adverse effect on productive performance of does, as well as the growth performance of their kids.