Effect of adding two levels of Cerotonia Siliqua L. to the diets on the specific qualities of milk and its correlation with some of the vital blood characteristics of local Awaasi lambs.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding two levels of CerotoniaSiliqua L. powder to the after birth sheep on the specific characteristics of the produced milk and some vital blood characteristics (albumin, glucose and cholesterol) for the mothers and lambs during three periods: the first period (P1) two weeks after birth, the second period (P2) four weeks after birth, the third period (P3) six weeks after birth. The experimental treatments were as follows: The first treatment (A) was used as a comparison treatment (control), the second and third treatment (B and C) were basal diet plus 30 and 60 g/kg of CerotoniaSiliqua L. powder respectively. The obtained results showed that a significant increase in milk quality (protein, lactose and non-fat solids) as well as an increase in some vital blood characteristics of the female ewes (albumins and glucose) were noted. Significantly, cholesterol proportion was decreased when the CerotoniaSiliqua L. powder added to the diets (P1, P2, P3), respectively. However, there was a significant increase in both glucose and cholesterol levels during the three periods.Additionally, a positive relationship between the amount of glucose for the blood of ewes and the glucose of the lamb blood for the three consecutive periods. The decrease percentage of milk lactose on the amount of blood glucose was noted as well as the appearance of a negative relationship between blood cholesterol for ewes and the blood cholesterol of the lambs for period P3. In conclusion, addition of CerotoniaSiliqua L. powder to the diet has improved the quality characteristics of the produced milk in sheep.