Effect of Addition of Pomegranate Peel in the Ration with or Without Polyethylene Glycol on Productive Performance of Lactating Goats

Abstract The industries of Pomegranate juice processing generate enormous waste in peel’s form which are suggested and evaluated as a supplement in animal feed but pomegranate peel have high percent of tannins, So the aim of this paper is to assess the impact of mixing pomegranate peel (PP), detanninated pomegranate peel (DPP) and pomegranate peel with polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the digestibility of nutrients, the yield of goats milk and its composition, feed conversion and some parameters of blood. Moreover, simple economic assessment of the examined rations are considered. Sixteen lactating Zaraibi goats of about 3-4 years old (in their 2nd to 4th of lactation seasons with an average body weight of about 25 + 0.5 kg are used in the present study. After 14 days of parturition was randomly assigned into four groups, four animals per each tested ration (R) for 90days, R1: Control : 50% CFM + 25% Egyptian clover and 25% wheat straw, R2: Control ration+1% PP, R3: Control ration+1% PP + 20 g (PEG) and R4:Control ration+1% DPP. The results revealed that the PP contained 90.85% DM, 4.84% CP, 15.53% CF, 87.21%OM, 4.69% EE, 62.15% NFE and 15.28% tannins. No significant differences were found between the tested rations regarding nutrients digestibility except EE digestibility. Nutritive values of R2 and R3 were slightly higher than R4 and R1, respectively. Ration three (R3) was the best ration for daily milk yield and total milk yield, where R4 showed the worst one. Also, there are no significant differences for dry matter, SV and TDN intake. While, values of DCP intake were higher significantly (P<0.05), for R3 and R2 followed by R4 then R1. Regarding feed conversion, R4 was superior to other tested rations followed by R1 then R3 followed by R2. All blood serum parameters were in the normal rang which support that the healthy effect of tested additives in goats rations. It seems that R2 and R3 could be used successfully for lactating goats, but R3 is very expensive from economical point of view, where R3 was negatively economical effect, and not recommended.