Effect of adding different levels Ziziphora tenuior on performance, blood parameters and fecal score of Sistani neonatal kids

 Animal feed additives are used worldwide for many different reasons. Breeding management of sucking animals, including proper nutrition and prevention of common diseases up to the age of weaning, has an effective role in the economic value of the livestock industry.Some help to cover the needs of essential nutrients and others to increase growth performance, feed intake and therefore optimize feed utilization. The health status of animals with a high growth performance is a predominant argument in the choice of feed additives. Herbs, spices and their extracts (botanicals) have a wide range of activities. They can stimulate feed intake and endogenous secretions or have antimicrobial, coccidiostatic or anthelmintic activity. Among the advantages of using medicinal plants are simple use, no adverse effects in most of them on animal performance, no harmful residues in livestock and poultry products and less cost than antibiotics.The aim of the present investigation was to study of effect of Ziziphora tenuior on the performance of suckling kids, dry matter digestibility, blood parameters and the effect on the incidence of diarrhea.

 In order to investigate the effect of adding different levels of Ziziphora tenuior on performance, blood parameters and fecal score of Sistani infants from 18 lambs aged 1 to 2 months with an average weight of 13 2. 2.7 kg in a completely randomized design with three treatments and 6 replications Were. Treatments included:  control (milk without additive), 2) milk contains 2.5 g powder Ziziphora tenuior, 3) milk contains 5 g powder Ziziphora tenuior. The duration of the experiment was 70 days. The diets used in this experiment were prepared according to the tables of the National Association of Sheep Research (NRC) and were given to the goats in the morning (8 o'clock) and in the evening (16 o'clock) as an appetite suppressant. Daily feed was provided to the animals in a completely mixed form. The Ziziphora tenuior plant used was dried in an oven, ground and added to milk as a powder, and milk was given to the goats twice a day (10% of body weight) by pacifiers. Kids were weighed one day per week to evaluate weight changes. Dry matter intake was measured and fecal score was recorded daily. Feces samples were collected for digestibility in the final week for 5 days. Goat feces were evaluated daily. Feces scores were determined based on 1-firm and consistent, 2-soft and loose, 3-loose and watery, 4-watery with some blood and 5-watery with blood and mucus. Blood sampling was performed on day 63 so that all goats were sampled intravenously before the morning meal and with dietary restriction for 12 to 14 hours and the blood was taken in two separate tubes, one containing heparin to obtain plasma and the other without heparin. The concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, albumin and total protein were also determined by spectrophotometer. About 3 ml of blood was transferred to tubes containing EDTA solution and hematological parameters including white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were measured and red blood cells, hemoglobin, hemoglobin, hemoglobin, hematogram. The mean concentration of cellular hemoglobin was also counted and calculated.

  The dry matter, crude protein and ether extracts of Ziziphora tenuior were 87.91, 7.91 and 3.21 percent, respectively. Based on the obtained results, adding of different levels Ziziphora tenuior to milk. Dry matter digestibility in two leves 2.5 and 5 grams significantly increase compared to control. Daily gain, feed conversion ratio, blood parameter and immune respones were not affected by treatment trials. Fecal score significantly decreased between treatment level 5g and control. There were no significant differences between treatments for blood parameter. Ziziphora tenuior has appetizing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of linalool and stimulates the digestive process Can increase dietary intake and weight and improve feed conversion ratio.The result showed that adding herbal to milk in neonatal calves have positive effect because of affecting on starter intake, dry matter digestibility and fecal consistency score.

 This study showed that the inclusion of Ziziphora tenuior kids diet increase dry matter intake, Improved the  fecal score and incidence of diarrhea. Therefore, it is recommended to use this additive plant in milk or starter diet of suckling animals.