THE USE OF DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES OF WILD THYME THYMUS SERPYLLUM IN THE DIETS OF AWASSI LAMBS AND ITS EFFECT ON GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS: استخدام نسب مختلفة من الزعتر البري Thymus serpyllum في علائق الحملان العواسية وأثره في النمو وصفات الذبيحة

This study was conducted to find out the effect of using different percentages of wild thyme, Thymus serpyllum in the diets of Awassi lambs, and its effect on growth, carcass characteristics, blood traits and some properties of rumen fluid. This experiment was conducted in field of the Department of Animal Production of College of Agriculture and Forestry at University of Mosul. In this experiment, 24 twenty four male Awassi lambs were used, their ages ranged between 5-6 months, lambs were randomly distributed to 4 four treatments and each treatment included 6 six replicates of lambs. The lambs were raised and fed for a period of 90 days From date of (11/11/2020) the beginning of the experiment to date of slaughtering animals for sampling for research purposes on (9/2/2021). And lambs of first treatment (control) were fed on a standard diet only. Free from any additives consisting of barley, wheat bran, wheat straw, soybean meal, limestone and salt, a second treatment was added wild thyme 10 gm/kg feed/head daily, third treatment was 20 gm/kg feed/head daily and fourth treatment was 30 g/kg of feed/head per day. The results of experiment did not show significant differences in daily and total weight gain and carcass characteristics. The results of pH of rumen fluid before feeding or after feeding two hours, nor concentration of rumen liquid ammonia two hours after feeding did not show significant differences between the four treatments. As for the ammonia concentration of the rumen fluid before feeding, it indicated a significant superiority (P≤ 0.05) in treatment. Fourth compared to other transactions. Also, no significant differences were observed in blood characteristics.

Study of the effect of treatment with pomegranate peel extract on the microbial load of coated Awassi lambs' meat samples when preserved by freezing: دراسة تأثير المعاملة بمستخلص قشور الرّمان على الحمولة الميكروبية لعينات لحم حملان العواس المغلّفة عند حفظها بالتجميد

In this study, the effect on the microorganism counts and the changes of this microbial load on the meat of Awassi lambs were studied after being packed and stored for 6 months under freezing conditions (-18 C) through treatment with pomegranate peel extract. The research tests were conducted in the laboratories of the Food Science Department at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering in Deir Ezzor. The results of the microbial load counts showed significant differences in the numbers of intermediate thermophilic anaerobic bacteria between the samples treated with the extract and the control samples during the storage period. Significant differences were also observed in the numbers of E. coli bacteria, and the samples treated with concentration (1.5%) were the least numbered compared to samples treated with other concentrations. The average logarithm of the numbers of E. coli bacteria in the meat of Awassi lambs decreased from (7.74, 7.45, 6.64) in The beginning of the storage period to (3.72, 2.54, 1.21) at the end, when using pomegranate peel extract concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5%) respectively. The average logarithm of the number of bacteria Pseudomonas according to the concentration of the extract (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%) from (11.07, 11.02, 10.46) at the beginning of the storage period to (7.12, 6.23, 2.98) at the end of the storage period, respectively, as for the control samples. (Other than the treatment with the extract), the number of bacteria increased in an insignificant way.

Effect of different plants’ aromatic essential oils on frozen Awassi lamb meat’s chemical and physical characteristics

The effect of drenching Awassi lambs with three aromatic essential oils from sage (Salvia officinalis L.), clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), and laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) was investigated on meat chemical and physical characteristics, and oxidative and deterioration measurements. Twenty-four Awassi lambs, five to six months old, were divided into four groups. A concentrated diet was provided to the lambs at a rate of 3% of the body weight. The treatments were as follows: T1 was served as the untreated control, while T2, T3, and T4 were drenched with oils of sage, clove, and laurel, respectively. Drenching was carried out using water-soluble capsules containing 500 mg oil/capsule/day. Treatments lasted 90 days. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were fasted overnight and slaughtered. The carcasses were cleaned and kept at 4°C for 24 h. The longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was then separated and preserved in a plastic bag for three preservation periods: no freezing and 30 days and 60 days freezing at −18°C. Several physical, fat, and protein stability analyses of meat were done after the preservation periods. The results indicated no significant effect of drenching Awassi lambs with different aromatic essential oils on the meat’s physical and chemical characteristics. However, these oils, especially clove oil, affected fat and protein stability with increasing preservation period by freezing.

Relationship of some metabolic Hormones with Increased Live Body Weight of Male and Female of Karakul and Awassi Lambs

This study was conducted in the animal field of the Al-Kafeel Company from November 2019 till May 2020 to investigate the possible association between growth hormone (GH) and thyroxine (T4) with the growth traits in Awassi and Karakul sheep. The total number of animals which used in the study was 60 lambs, 28 (13 males and 15 females) from Karakul and 32 (18 males and 14 females) from Awassi. Blood samples were collected at birth, weaning, and six months of age, and both GH and T4 concentrations were measured. Results showed higher values of T4 for Karakul as compared with Awassi at birth and weaning. Karakul breed was also exhibited significantly higher values of GH over Awassi breed only at weaning, while, no significant differences were observed at birth and six months of age. Karakul lambs showed higher weights as compared with Awassi lambs at all studied periods. A highly significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation was observed between T4 concentration and the weight of lambs at most studied periods. Whereas, GH did not exhibit any correlation with growth traits measured in both breeds. The elevated T4 might be one of the reasons for superiority of Karakul over Awassi breed in live body weights. This high correlation between T4 and growth traits could be used in the early selection of lambs to improve the weights of sheep at marketing.

Using of Different Kinds of Aromatic Oils with Feeding on Some Productive Traits in Awassi Lambs

This study was conducted in the animal farm of the College of Veterinary Medicine/Tikrit University for the period from 01/10/2019 to 31/12/2019 to investigate the effect of using different kinds of aromatic oils on some productive traits in Awassi lambs. Twenty Awassi lambs aged between 5-6 month and divided according to weight into four group and hens in an individual cages, the study lasted for 90 day. concentrate diet provided to the lambs at 3% of their body weight. the treatment were as follows : T1 was a control group without drenching, T2 drenched with sage oil, T3 drenched with clove oil and T4 drenched with laurel oil. drenching process was done manually by using water-soluble capsules each one contain 500 mg of oil, each lambs was given one capsule/day. which is pushed by using a plastic tube in to the beginning of esophagus. to study the effect of these oils on weight characteristics, body dimensions and wool characteristics. The results showed that there was no significant effect of the treatments on body weight characteristics. As for the measurements of the body dimensions after a month of the experiment, laurel oil, clove oil and sage oil had a significant effect on the chest circumference, the width of the body at the front, the width of the body at the back and BCS, and also the parameters had a significant effect on the measurements of body dimensions At the end of the experiment, the characteristics of the height of the body at the front, the height of the body at the back, the circumference of the chest, and the length of the body. As for the characteristics of the wool, the oils used led to a decrease in the percentage of clean wool and an increase in the length of the fiber compared to the control.

Effect of Different Level of Zeolite and Perlite on The Physiological Performance of Awassi Lambs

A total of 24 male Awassi lamb aged (4-6) months were used, to determine the effect of different level of zeolite and perlite on the physiological traits of Awassi sheep. Results show that te use of zeolite led to the presence of high significant differences at the level (P ≤ 0.05) of the studied values between the experimental groups and according to the weeks of the study, as the values varied between different weeks in the characteristics of the biochemical blood parameters and values, which are (both cholesterol values, the values of high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and fats). All treatments of zeolite and perylite and their mixture outperformed the control group, while the fourth treatment T4 outperformed the other treatments, followed by the third treatment T3 over the studied treatments T2 and T1.

Effect of Level of Concentrate Feeding and Addition of Monensin on Blood Parameters of Awassi Lambs

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of level of concentrate feeding and addition of monensin on blood parameters. Sixteen Awassi lambs were used at 4-6 months of age and mean initial weight of 21.27 kg. Concentrate diet was offered at two levels (2.5 and 3% of body weight, BW) with or without the addition of monensin at a rate of 30 mg/kg DM. Ground wheat straw was offered adlibitum. Results showed that increasing level of concentrate significantly increased (P<0.01) blood concentration of total protein (BTP) from 6.94 to 8.84 g.100 ml-1, urea nitrogen (BUN), and triglyceride (TG) from 15.54 to 18.23 and 22.66 to 25.12 mg.100 ml-1 respectively. The addition of monensin significantly increased (P<0.05) TP concentration from 7.61 to 8.17 g.100 ml-1, whereas, BUN concentration was decreased (P<0.01) from 18.15 to 15.62 mg.100 ml-1. All blood parameters were also affected (P<0.05) by the interaction between the level of concentrate and the addition of monensin. In the study of diurnal changes, blood parameters showed an expected response to the time of withdrawing blood samples from lambs.

Effect of suckling and weaning systems on age, weight at puberty, and some reproductive traits in Awassi sheep: تأثير نظم الرضاعة والفطام في العمر والوزن عند البلوغ الجنسي وبعض الصفات التناسلية في الأغنام العواسية

A flock of seventy-two Awassi ewes aged five years were used in this study to evaluate the effects of three suckling system (24, 15, 9) hours and two weaning system at the weight of (15 and 20) Kg on age, weight at puberty, scrotum circumference and size and some characteristics of semen of Awassi lambs. Suckling and weaning systems had a significant effect (p≤0.05) on age and weight at puberty for males and the benefit of the suckling group for 24 hours and the weaning system of 20 kg. At 5 and 6 months of age, the suckling system had a significant effect (p≤0.05) on the circumference and size of the scrotum. At 6,7 and 8 months, the influence of the weaning system on the circumference and size of the scrotum, with the superiority of the suckling group 24 hours and the weaning system of 20 kg, a gradual and significant increase (p≤0.05) in the circumference and size of the scrotum was observed with age, and a significant improvement (p≤0.05) was observed in the characteristics of semen as the measurement period progresses. The lambs in the 24-hour suckling group gave the best semen consistency at puberty and after 4 weeks of puberty, and the 24-hour suckling group was superior than suckling group 9 hours in individual motility of sperm at puberty, and the interaction coefficients had a significant effect on age, weight at puberty, circumference and size of the scrotum at 5,6-and 7- months of age. The interaction between treatment effect on the size of semen in the second collection after puberty and its consistency at puberty also at the second collection the interaction had a significant effect (p≤0.05) on the individual and mass motility of the sperms at puberty and in the mass motility on the second collection of semen. Suckling and weaning systems had no significant effect on age and weight at puberty for female except for the superiority of the second interaction treatment on the third in weight at puberty which reached 37.88 and 27.80 kg respectively. The aim of this study was to find out the effect of suckling and weaning system for reaching sexual puberty and determining the age and weight at puberty in male and female Awassi sheep in addition to their effect on the circumference and size of the testicle and some of the semen characteristics of lambs, which are important characteristics for raising reproductive efficiency of the flock. The study recommends following the 24-hour suckling system and 20 kg weaning system, which leads to approach male lambs at a lower age and higher weight at sexual puberty.

Effects of Sunflower Hulls on Productive Performance, Digestibility Indices and Rumen Morphology of Growing Awassi Lambs Fed with Total Mixed Rations

Forty-eight growing Awassi lambs were used in a 70-day trial to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary sunflower hulls (SFH) on growth, rumen morphology, fiber digestibility and meat characteristics of lambs. Animals were randomly allocated to 4 groups with 3 replicates of 4 lambs each. The diet was composed of total mixed ration (TMR) without SFH (control group), and the TMR diet supplemented with SFH at a level of 5% (SFH5), 10% (SFH10) and 15% (SFH15). Lambs in the treatment groups had greater BW changes (p = 0.04) and ADG (p = 0.04) than the lambs in the control group. Intake of dry matter, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in SFH15 compared to SFH10. Digestibility of ADL and empty stomach weight were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in SFH10 and SFH15, respectively. Cooking loss, blood total cholesterol and total protein decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in SFH15. Ruminal lightness (L) and yellowness (b) also increased significantly (p < 0.05) in SFH15. We concluded that the TMR diet supplemented with up to 15% SFH improved weight gain, digestibility, meat cooking loss and rumen color in Awassi lambs.