الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was carried out at Sakha Experimental Station, belonging to the Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University during the period from December 2009 to December 2010.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing concentrate feed mixture containing cotton seed cake by 15 or 20% of whole sunflower seeds on nutrient digestibility coefficient, rumen function and milk production of does as well as growth performance, puberty and reproductive characteristics of male and female offsprings.
Total of 30 local breed (Zaraibi) goat does having 4-5 years of age, average, 42.460.86 kg LBW and within 3 parity were used in this study. Does were fed a basal ration consisting of 25% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) beside 75% fresh berseem during winter feeding or 50% CFM and 50% berseem hay (BH) during summer feeding. During the last month of pregnancy, all does were divided into three groups (10 does each). Goats in the 1st group (G1) served as a control and were fed the basal ration (Control). However, does in the 2nd (G2) and 3rd (G3) groups were fed the control ration, but 15 and 20% of CFM were replaced by whole sunflower seeds, respectively.
Chemical composition of the tested rations, contents of EE and OM were higher, while contents of DM, CP, and ash were lower in SFS treatment groups than in CFM group. Increasing OM in SFS treatment groups as compared to CFM group was due to ash content in SFS treatment groups and CFM group. However, contents of CF and NFE were nearly similar in SFS treatment groups and CFM group
Average daily milk yield during the suckling period was the highest (P<0.05) in G3 as compared to G2 or G1. The significant differences were observed only at 60, 75 and 90 d of the suckling period. At 90 d of the sucking period and during the whole milking period, average daily milk yield was higher (P<0.05) in G2 and G3 than in G1.
Economic efficiency of milk production: The present results revealed that milk feed efficiency and feed conversion for concentrates was the best for does fed 20% SFS ration, followed by those fed 15% SFS ration, while those fed the control ration showed the poorest values. Feed cost of production each kg milk was the lowest (1.44 L.E.) for does fed 20% SFS ration, the modest (1.59 L.E.) for those fed 15% SFS ration and the highest (2.02 L.E.) for the control does.
Based on the foregoing results the tested rations (15 and 20% whole sunflower seeds) in the treatment groups the resulted in the following: Improvement in digestibility coefficients of nutrients, nutritive values during winter and summer feeding without adverse effects on live body weight of Zaraibi goat does and increased milk production without remarkable changes in milk composition or blood serum parameters.
Also, kids produced from does fed ration containing 15 or 20% whole sunflower seeds and fed the same rations of their dams resulted in the following: Improving growth performance and viability rate of buck and doe kids during the suckling and milking periods, induced early puberty in buck kids and increased reproductive performance and improved ovarian and estrous activities of doe kids at puberty.