SUMMARY An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of organic (selenized yeast) and inorganic (Na-selenite) selenium on nutrient digestibility, growth performance and blood parameters of growing buffalo claves. Fifteen Egyptian healthy male buffalo calves were divided randomly into three groups (5 animals each). The treatment groups were as follows: control group (G1) fed basal diet without selenium supplement and treated groups fed 0.22 mg Se/kg DM as either Na –Selenite (G2) or selenized yeast (G3) to the concentrate mixture. All animals were fed 70% of their requirements as concentrate mixture, while wheat straw given as roughages ad libitum The results indicated that there were significant (P0.05) improvements in the digestibility coefficient of organic matter, crude protein, either extract and crude fibre due to dietary supplementation of both Se- yeast and Na-Selenite. No significant differences were observed in growth rate and total dry matter intake of calves between treatments groups. Dietary Se-yeast and Na-selenite supplementation led to significantly (P0.05) improved fed conversion ratio for calves as compared with control group (10.86 and 11.09 vs. 11.99). Calves fed Se-yeast or Na-Selenite supplement had increased (P 0.05) concentrations of selenium in whole blood, greater activity (P 0.05) of blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) with lower (P 0.05) cholesterol and urea concentration than those fed the control diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Se-yeast was more effective than sodium selenite in improving nutrient digestibility, feed conversion efficiency and increasing both Se concentration and GSH-Px activity in the blood of buffalo calves.

Nine surface (0-30 cm) soil samples were collected based on their salinity levels fromEl-Dakhla oasis, New Valley, Egypt to investigate the effect of soil salinity level on phosphorus (P) forms. The soil samples were divided into two levels based on their content of soil salinity to non-saline samples (ECe4dS/m) and saline ones (ECe>4 dS/m). Seven fractions of soil P (resin-P, NaHCO3-Pi, NaHCO3-Po, NaOH-Pi, NaOH-Po, HCl-P and Residual-P) were sequentially extracted from each soil sample using the modified Hedley method. The results indicated that relative to the total P, the mean percentages of resin-P, NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi, NaOH-Po and residual-P fractions were higher in the saline soil samples (ECe>4 dS/m) than those of the non-saline ones(ECe4dS/m). On the other side, the mean level of HCl-P fraction was lower in the saline soil samples. So, soil salinity tends to motivate levels of labile P (resin-P, NaHCO3-Pi, NaHCO3-Po), NaOH-Po and residual-P to increase on the charge of reducing the HCl-P level. Significant positive correlations were recorded between the NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi and NaOH-Po fractions and the ECe, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, HCO3-,Cl-, SO4-2 and SARe of these soil samples.However,the NaHCO3-Po, HCl-P and residual P fractions were negatively correlated to the ECe, Na+, Cl- and SARe.

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Abstract: The effects of feeding Moringa Oleifera leaves meal (MOLM) as a nontraditional feed on performance and immune response were studied in broiler chicks raised on floor litter from 1 till 5 weeks of age. A total of 144 Cobb strain broiler chicks were distributed into 3 treatments (48 chicks/ treatment) with 4 replicates per treatment and 12 chicks per pen. Dietary MOLM levels of 0, 2, and 4% were supplemented to a basal ration (control) containing 22.4% crude protein and 3100 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy so that the three diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and met the requirements of broilers for all essential nutrients. Results indicated that at 4 weeks of age, body weight of birds fed the 2% MOLM was numerically higher than those of both the control and 4% MOLM. At 5 weeks of age, however, the body weight of birds offered the 4% dietary MOLM, was lowered (P.05) by 3.6 and 2.4% as compared to the control and 2% MOLM, respectively. The overall means of feed conversion values of all treatments were comparable (1.9). However, at 5 week-old the 4% MOLM recorded lower FCR (2.7) than (P.01) both control and 2% MOLM (2.3 and 2.4, respectively). Protein conversion ratio values indicated that the chicks received 2% MOLM were superior (2.36) to the control 0.0% and 4% MOLM fed groups (2.53 and 2.81%, respectively). Performance index (PI) and production number (PN) showed no differences among all treatments. Lymphoid organs weight as (%) of body weight showed that bursa % in the group received 2% MOLM recorded the highest (P.01) weight in comparison to the control and 4% (.189% vs. .105 and .112%, respectively) in response to dietary supplementation. The percentage of abdominal fat was numerically lower in 2% MOLM fed group and coincided with a decreased (P.01) level of ether extract % in body composition analyses. In conclusion, MOLM could be incorporated at 2% in broiler diets for improving carcass quality, immune response and protein conversion ratio.

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