Author/Authors :
El-Bassiony, Moharram Fouad Animal and Poultry Physiology Department - Animal and Poultry Production Division - Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt , El-Hawy, Ahmed Sobhi Animal and Poultry Physiology Department - Animal and Poultry Production Division - Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt , El-Lam, Ashgan Mohamed Animal and Poultry Physiology Department - Animal and Poultry Production Division - Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt , Abd-Elaze, Reda Abd-Ellattif Animal and Poultry Physiology Department - Animal and Poultry Production Division - Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract :
This study aimed at investigating the effect of drinking saline water and feeding salt tolerant plant on some
physiological parameters of pregnant Shami goats and their offspring. Forty late pregnant goats (at 4th and 5th months
of pregnancy) were randomly divided into 2 groups (20 each). The 1st group (control; C) was fed a diet consisted of
concentrate feed mixture (CFM) plus berseem hay and drank fresh tap water (274 ppm TDS). The 2nd group (S) was
fed CFM plus Alfalfa and drank saline water (6000 ppm TDS). The treatment lasted to the weaning of their kids at
90 days of age. Body weight gain was significantly lower in females of S group than in control ones. Similar trend
was observed in kids body weight gain from birth tell weaning. Total plasma proteins of pregnant Shami does were
not affected by salt intake, but decreased with advancing pregnancy in females of the two experimental groups. Kids
of S group had higher (P<0.05) levels of all plasma proteins than found in kids of C group. Total lipids and insulin
decreased (P<0.05) by salt intake in pregnant goats and their kids. Leptin decreased (P<0.05) in pregnant does of S
group but not in their kids. Liver and kidney functions indicators significantly increased in both does and their kids of
group S. Blood electrolytes (Na and K) and plasma osmolality increased significantly in does drank saline water and
their kids which have negative feedback on aldosterone. In conclusion, Shami goats can tolerate a high salt intake and
living under harsh condition of marginal regions with minimum weight loss. Their offspring will be programmed to
alter their adaptive response to grow well under these harsh conditions
Keywords :
Salt tolerant , Shami goats , Maternal , Biochemical , Hormones
