Improving Productivity and Health Status of Lactating Zaraibi Goats with Echinacea Purpurea or/and Chamomile Flower Supplementation

Gabr, Amr A.; Ahmed, M. I.; Shaheen, G. F.; Abdel-Gawad, A.-G. M.; Abdelsalam, Omnia M.; Farag, Mona E.

doi:10.21608/jappmu.2024.258055.1099

Improving Productivity and Health Status of Lactating Zaraibi Goats with Echinacea Purpurea or/and Chamomile Flower Supplementation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt

² Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt

10.21608/jappmu.2024.258055.1099

Abstract

This study examined the effects of Echinacea purpurea (EP), Chamomile flowers (ChF), and their mixture on productive performance, blood profile, and physiological parameters in lactating Zaraibi goats. Twenty-eight Zaraibi goats weighing 32.38±3.35 kg were randomly divided into four equal groups after parturition. Group 1 was fed the basal diet without additives, while the other three groups were supplemented with 1.0g EP/kg diet, 1.0g ChF/kg diet, and 0.5g EP+0.5g ChF/kg diet, respectively. The results demonstrated that the supplementations had increased the feed unite intake, feeding values, and nutrient digestibility, particularly for crude protein and crude fiber, as well as increased ruminal total volatile fatty acids, with significant differences obtained (p < 0.05) between the mixture supplementation and the control group. Hematological parameters, including hemoglobin, mean-corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and lymphocytes, were positively affected (p < 0.05) by the EP and the mixture supplements compared to control group. The dietary supplementations enhanced (p < 0.05) serum total protein, globulin, aspartate amino-transferase, alanine amino-transferase, cholesterol, creatinine, and urea concentrations. The EP and mixture supplementations increased (p < 0.05) daily milk yield, fat content, and total solids percentage, while reduced milk somatic cell count compared to control group. The supplemented groups also exhibited improved changes (p < 0.05) in body weights and feed conversion ratios per kilogram of milk yield, with the mixture supplementation showing the most substantial improvements. Overall, improved health status and body weights align with high milk production indicate the potential benefits of incorporating the current EP and ChF combination as a dietary supplement in the management practices of lactating Zaraibi goats.

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