Use of Total Mixed Rations Incorporating Date Palm By-products treated with Probiotics in Goat Bucks' Diets under Subtropical Conditions

The study evaluated the effect of using two probiotics to improve the nutritional value of date palm by-products (DPBP) in diets of growing goat bucks. Twenty four male goats, weighing 8.67± 0.28 kg at six months of age, were randomly allocated to the four experimental treatments (n = 6), 1) a basal diet consist of 10% Faba bean + 10% Yellow corn + 18% alfalfa hay + 10% Wheat bran + 20% discarded dates + 30% date palm leaves + 1% Limestone + 0.5% NaCl+ 0 .5 % Premix without probiotics (control treatment), 2) basal diet supplemented with 4g Bacillofort containing 2 × 1011 CFU of Bacillus subtilis/g (BAC), 3) basal diet supplemented with 4g ZAD containing 6 × 108 CFU of Ruminococcus albus/g (ZAD), and 4) basal diet supplemented with the combination of BAC and ZAD (BAC-ZAD). All diets were fed for 150 days. Probiotics increased (P<0.05) hemoglobin, red blood cells and hematocrit but decreased white blood cells count (WBC). The BAC-ZAD group exerted significant (P<0.05) positive effects on scrotal circumference, testicular length (right and left), and testicular volume in comparison to the other group. A more positive effect on testosterone levels found for BAC-ZAD group. Based on the previous results, probiotics could be used to improve hematological parameters and testosterone levels of bucks. This study indicated that local feed ingredients such as DPBP could be used to formulate animal rations and reduced their cost without compromising animal performance. While offering an environmental-friendly way of utilizing agricultural waste by-products..