EFFECTS OF AMMONIATED RICE STRAW ON HEALTH, RUMEN LIQUOR AND BLOOD IN HEIFERS AND RAMS.

Thirty animals (16 heifers and 14 rams) were used in this study. The first group comprised of 16 heifers (2 years old, 400 ±10 kg weight). The heifers, were subdivided into 8 tested and 8 control. The tested heifers were fed on ammoniated rice straw 3% for 6 months and concentrate mixture, however the control heifers fed on ration with rice straw, berseem and concentrate mixture. The second group comprised of 14 fattened rams (1-1.5 years old, 60 ±10 kg weight). The fattened rams were subdivided into 7 tested and 7 control. The tested rams fed on ammoniated rice straw 3 % and concentrate mixture for 10 months, while the controls were kept on rice straw, berseem with concentrate mixture. The clinical signs of bonkers syndrome were not manifested on tested heifers and rams. The rumen liquor pH revealed insignificant increase in tested heifers and significant increase (P < 0.01) tested rams, the rumen liquor ammonia showed significant increase in tested rams and the ruminal total volatile fatty acids, were significantly increased (P<0.05) in tested heifers and non-significantly increased in tested rams in comparison to the controls. The blood ammonia level showed significant increase in tested heifers (P < 0.001) and in tested rams (P < 0.01). Insignificant increase in serum urea and creatinine in tested heifers and rams, Non-significant increase in serum total bilirubin in tested heifers. and significant increase (P < 0.01) in tested rams. The serum level of ALT (GPT) revealed significant increase in tested heifers (P < 0.05) and in tested rains (P < 0.01) while the serum level of AST (GOT) was significantly increased P < 0.001) in tested heifers and поп- significantly decreased in tested rams. Non-significant alterations were reported in serum cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in both tested heifers and rams versus the controls. The serum proteinogram in tested heifers showed significant decrease in total protein (P < 0.05) and albumin (P < 0.001) while non-significant increase in globulin, however, in tested rams, there was significant increase in total protein, albumin (P < 0.001) and globulin (P < 0.05) The serum glucose level was significantly increased in tested rams in relation to the controls. The erythrogram showed non-significant increase in hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBCs in tested heifers and significant decrease in hemoglobin (P < 0.01) and RBCs (P < 0.05) while insignificant decrease in hematocrit in tested rams. The leukogram of the tested heifers and rams showed non-significant fluctations in comparison to the controls. It can be concluded that, inspite of the economical use of ammoniated rice straw in the feeding of heifers and rams, unfortunately, it causes hepatocellular damage and anemia, so, further studies were needed to overcome these bad effects.