title: Characteristics of rumen in Naemi lamb: Morphological changes in response to altered feeding regimen.
abstract: This study sought to chart the ontogenesis of rumen in Naemi lambs through histomorphometeric evaluation subjected to alfalfa hay in total mixed rations (TMR). A total of 40 growing healthy Naemi male lambs (28.85±1.09kg), at weaning (90±3days) was randomly distributed into four groups. One group was fed on TMR (control) only, while others were supplemented with restricted amount of alfalfa hay at the rate of 100g per day (T1), 200g once per two days (T2) and 300g once per three days (T3) in addition to ad libitum TMR. The results indicated that body weight and dry matter intake increased significantly in treated groups. Significantly higher (P<0.05) pH was recorded in all the treated groups after 8h of feeding. Similarly, the brightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness ((b*) of rumen was significantly higher (P<0.05) in treated groups. The papillary length, width and surface area of rumen were significantly (P<0.05) high in alfalfa supplemented groups. Iron (Fe) concentration in rumen tissue decreased significantly (P<0.05) in treated groups. We concluded that a dietary plan based on ad libitum TMR with the addition of alfalfa at the rate of aforementioned protocol not only enhanced feed intake and growth rate of the growing Naemi lambs but also improved the structural characteristics of the rumen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alhidary
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451,Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: amutassim@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Mutassim M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.affiliation: ARASCO Company, P.O. Box 53845, Riyadh 11593, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alyemni
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451,Saudi Arabia; Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rifat U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Green Energy Research, Department of plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Green Energy Research, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Aarif H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Mubarak
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hani H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Albaadani
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012417:Rumen / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Alfalfa; Colour; Lambs; Rumen; Total mixed ration