Arwa Al-Bustany* (1), Hassan Abbas (1), Abd Al-Naser Al-Omar (2), Khaled Qassem (3), Shaza Habib (3), Iyad Al-Helou (3), Ethar Al-Sayyid(3), and Heba Adra (3)
(1). Department of Animal Production, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.
(2). HamaResearch Center, Hama, Syria.
(3). Salamiyah Research Center, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Arwa Al-Bustany. E-mail: arwaalbustany1989@gmail.com).
Received: 21/02/2024 Accepted:11/07/2024
Abstract:
The research was conducted at the Salamia Research Center (Kareem) from August 22/8/ 2023 to December 9/12/ 2023 with the aim of studying the effect of different ratios of zinc oxide and nano zinc oxide on some productive and hematological indicators of pregnant Awassi ewes and their lambs.Twenty Awassi ewes, aged 2-3 years, were used in the study, with an average of 5 ewes per group. They were divided into four groups and monitored for two months before birth and one month after giving birth. The ewes were fed with the same diet used at the station. The control group was fed a diet containing 30 mg of zinc oxide per kg of dry matter feed, while the second, third, and fourth groups were fed doses of nano zinc oxide (10, 20, 30) mg/kg of dry matter feed. The results showed no significant differences between the control group and the three experimental groups in ewe weight throughout the experiment. The weights of the lambs at birth were higher in the nano groups compared to the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant. The ewes in the experimental groups (third and fourth) outperformed the control group in terms of total protein and albumin levels in the blood (P < 0.05). However, feeding the ewes with zinc oxide or nano zinc oxide had no significant effect on AST, ALT, and creatinine levels in the blood of ewes and their lambs, indicating no harmful effects on the liver and kidneys by adding nano zinc oxide. An increase in blood zinc levels was observed when feeding the ewes with nano zinc oxide, but it was not statistically significant in the ewes’ blood. However, significant differences were observed between the control group and both the third and fourth groups in the blood of the newborns, indicating greater absorption of nano zinc oxide in the digestive system, which suggests its use to enhance the productive and hematological indicators of Awassi ewes.
Key words: Awassi sheep, nano, zinc oxide.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF