The fatty acid composition for the longissimus dorsi (LD) fat of carcass sheep is a crucial factor impacting meat quality. We performed a 90-day feeding trial of 25 Naemi lambs to investigate the effects of roughage sources (alfalfa or wheat straw) of two sizes (regular and 1 cm chopped) when fed with pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) on the growth performance, fermentation patterns, and fatty acid (FA) composition of longissimus dorsi (LD) fat. Lambs were randomly assigned to individual pens with five treatment diets, as follows: C, control group with TMR; T1, TMR and regular alfalfa hay; T2, TMR and alfalfa hay chopped to 1 cm; T3, TMR and regular wheat straw; and T4, TMR and wheat straw chopped to 1 cm. Four lambs were randomly selected from each treatment (20 total) and sacrificed. LD fat of the carcass was extracted and analyzed for FA using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Significantly increased feed intake was found in T1 and T2. The FA composition of LD fat in T2 had higher unsaturated fatty acid (UFA), omega-6 (n6), and omega-3 (n3) FA content. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and α-linoleic acid were highest in lambs fed T1 and T2. Feeding different types of roughage, especially alfalfa hay, either regular or chopped, with total pelleted mixed ration is crucial to improving feed intake and body weight gain, as it positively enhances the rumen microbial fermentation process by controlling rumen pH. The FA profiles of meat from lambs fed TMR with regular or 1 cm particle size alfalfa hay (T1 and T2) are recommended for human consumption as a source of healthy FAs.

Background: Using natural zeolites as a food additive in poultry diets offers an intriguing perspective. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of zeolite addition and particle size on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, moisture of excreta and litter, and intestinal measurements during 35 days. Methods: A total of 560 1-day-old female Ross-308 broilers were divided into five treatment levels (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 g zeolite/kg diet) (n = 16 replicates/treatment, n = 8 replicates /particle size of each treatment). Performance was calculated weekly. Carcass characteristics, meat quality, small intestine (SI) measurements, litter pH, and moisture content were determined on day 35. Results: Litter pH, breast redness, cooking loss, chewiness, total weight, and SI length were all affected by zeolite treatments (p < 0.05). Particle size had an impact on the gastric pH and texture analysis. Their interaction had an effect on color redness, litter pH, and cooking loss. Performance was unaffected by either the main or interaction effects. Conclusion: Zeolite as a feed additive may be useful in broiler diets, particularly large particles. The performance and production efficiency factor improved numerically (p > 0.05) with increasing zeolite doses up to 10 g zeolite/kg diet.

Camel products are receiving great interest worldwide because of their high functional properties and nutritive values. Therefore, this study was focused on the variation of copper [Cu], zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], selenium [Se], iron [Fe], iodine [I], and some heavy metals, cobalt [Co], lead [Pb], and cadmium [Cd], in the blood and tissues of slaughtered camels from five regions in Saudi Arabia [SA] during the summer and winter seasons, because environmental factors vary from region to region. Whole blood, meat, liver, rumen fluid, and rumen tissues were collected from the slaughterhouse in each region during the two seasons. Moreover, samples were prepared and analyzed for trace mineral and heavy metal concentrations using ICP-MS. The data were statistically analyzed as part of a complete randomized design and correlation analysis for season and location using SAS. The findings revealed a pattern in the minerals, with Ca being the only mineral that was unrelated to other minerals in the liver. For lead and cadmium, our mean value in liver [0.40 µg/g] was below the limit of the EU standard for cadmium [0.50 µg/g], while in meat and liver, lead contents [1.62 µg/g and 2.57 µg/g, respectively] were above the limit of the EU standard [0.10 and 0.20 µg/g, respectively]. For meat, the significantly highest positive correlations were observed between P and Mg [R² = 0.928], Fe and Mn [R² = 0.860], and Co and Mn [R² = 0.821]. For rumen tissues, P and Mg were highly correlated [R² = 0.958] as well as Zn and Mg [R² = 0.857], Zn and P [R² = 0.836], and Fe and Ca [R² = 0.802]. As a result, a region and season reflect variations in mineral concentrations in SA during the summer and winter seasons. Further intensive research is needed to investigate the minerals’ biological mechanisms in camels under different environmental conditions.

This study was conducted to investigate the nutritional values of female camels’ milk and the minerals status, for them and their calves, when fed a total mixed ration (TMR) beside alfalfa hay during winter. Thirty-seven lactating multiparous female camels and their calves were selected at mid-lactation in the Al-Kharj region. Group one was fed only alfalfa hay ad libitum (C) and group two was supplemented with a total mixed ratio (TMR; 4 kg/head/day), primarily containing a mix of barley grain, wheat feed, palm kernel cake, soya hulls, vitamins and minerals. Milk and blood samples were collected in the middle of the winter season and analyzed for minerals using ICP-OES. A significant (p < 0.05) higher concentration was observed for protein and inorganic matter in milk from female camels supplemented with TMR in the T group. In addition, Mg, Co, Fe and Zn levels in milk significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with the control group (C). Blood serum concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Cu, I, Se, Zn and Cd minerals in female camels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the T group compared to the C group. Blood serum of the calves in the T group was significantly (p < 0.05) at higher levels for all minerals than in the control group (C); except iodine. Furthermore, significant correlations were reported between Co and Mn elements with most other minerals under investigation. In conclusion, TMR supplementation in the T group of female camels during lactation in the winter season is highly recommended since it improves the milk composition and mineral profile.

This study investigated the effects of supplementing different levels of sunflower hulls (SFH) to the complete feed of late-gestation pregnant ewes on the nutritive and fatty acids profile of colostrum at three and 48 h postpartum. In this study, 24 primiparous lactating Naemi ewes were randomly selected at parturition from four dietary groups as follows: (1) C (control), total mixed ration (TMR; 0% SFH), (2) S12, TMR1 with 12% SFH (level 1), (3) S20, TMR2 with 20% SFH (level 2), and (4) S28, TMR3 with 28% SFH (level 3). The body condition scores were estimated 30 days prepartum. Colostrum samples were collected at three and 48 h postpartum to measure the nutritive values and fatty acids profiles. Data were analyzed as a complete randomized design with repeated measures and via Pearson’s correlation and regression analyses. The results indicated a numerical correlation (R² = 0.42; p < 0.09) between the body condition score and both colostrum fat and total solids. SFH increased the colostrum fat % (p < 0.05), especially for S12 and S20, following a cubic trend. Additionally, the colostrum from S12 and S20 ewes had a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), omega3 and lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), other than margaric acid (C17) and stearic acid (C18), SFA/USFA, and omega 6/omega 3. Furthermore, the regression analysis of the fatty acid classes and indices indicated a quadratic relationship between the parameters and SFH levels. The results confirm that the inclusion of SFH at levels greater than 20% may have a negative effect on some fatty acid parameters as a result of the high lignin intake. In conclusion, up to 20% SFH can be used in a complete feed for pregnant ewes without negative effects on the colostrum fat content and fatty acids profiles.