A feeding trial was carried out to evaluate and study the effect of six dietary protein sources on the performance of Western Baggara cattle. Ninety bulls were used in feeding trial. Six iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets of protein feed ingredients guar germ (GGM), guar hull meal (GHM), sunflower cake (SFC), sesame cake (SC), groundnut cake (GNC) and cotton seed cake (CSC) were formulated. Bulls were fattened from an average initial live weight 200 kg to a target 300 kg live weight The results showed that the fattening performance of the experimental animals was significantly (P <0.05) affected by the different dietary protein sources. CSC tended to be superior for the daily live weight gain (1181g) and feed conversion ratio efficiency (6.97 kg DM/kg live wt gain), while it was intermediate in daily DM intake (8.23kg).Guar meals (Hull and Germ) had a lower feed intake (6.96kg and 7.23kg, respectively) and daily weight gain (870.9and 934g), with poor feed conversion ratio (8.06 and 7.97) for the tow diets, respectively. The present study concluded that SFC induced DM, ME, CP intake, , so we could advice farmers to use SFC in fattening diets, after they must attended some other characteristics as storage should be carefully considered (e.g. spontaneous fire). From the economical side of view the study showed that GGM and GHM were signed a lowest cost to produce kg meat than the other dietary treatments, in spite of their lower values in daily weight and FCE ratio. On the other hand, CSC in superior values in fattening performance followed by GNC and SC, respectively.

The objective was to determine effects of feeding time and dietary forage to concentrate ratio on 24-h rhythms and averages of peripheral blood urea (BU). Four multiparous (body weight, BW = 652 ± 14 kg; body condition score, BCS = 2.87 ± 0.14, days in milk, DIM = 83 ± 22) and four primiparous (BW = 667 ± 110 kg, BCS = 3.19 ± 0.66, 81 ± 23 DIM; mean  SD) Holstein cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design study with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of feeding time and diet type. A higher concentrate (HC, forage to concentrate ratio = 38.5:61.5) or a lower concentrate (LC, forage to concentrate ratio = 50.6:49.4) total mixed ration (TMR) was offered at either 2100 h or 0900 h. The study had four 21-d periods, each with 14-d adaptation. Blood was sampled every 2-h for two 24-h periods during sampling weeks. Feeding at 2100 h vs. 0900 h increased feed amount consumed within 3-h post-feeding from 26% to 37% of total daily intake. Total daily dry matter intake was similar among treatments. Blood urea exhibited significant 24-h rhythms in both parities, which depended on diet type and its interactions with sampling hour and time of feeding. Results demonstrate that time of feeding and thus time of major eating alter postprandial and 24-h patterns of feed intake and BU. Time of eating and its interaction with diet type can therefore affect splanchnic and peripheral nitrogen metabolism and efficiency in lactating cows.

The main objective was to establish diurnal and post-feeding patterns of rumen ammonia and peripheral blood urea (BU) in response to feeding timing in once-daily-fed dairy cows following 28-d adaptation periods. Four multiparous and four primiparous lactating Holstein cows (82 days in milk) were used in a cross-over design study with two 6-week periods. Each period had 4-wk of adaptation. A total mixed ration (TMR) with 49.8% concentrate was offered at either 0900 or 2100 h to permit 5-10% orts. Jugular blood was sampled via catheters every 2 h for two 24-h period during wk-5 of each period. The proportion of daily TMR intake consumed within 3-h post-feeding was 55% in 2100-fed cows, and 46% in 0900 h-fed cows (P<0.05). Rumen ammonia was higher at 2-h but lower at 6-h post-feeding, and remained numerically lower between 6-20 h post-feeding in cows fed at 2100 h vs. 0900 h. Feeding time did not affect BU daily averages. Blood urea increased shortly after morning but not evening feeding. Blood urea was higher for about 12 h pre-feeding in evening vs. morning fed cows. Results establish that timing of feeding and thus eating alters postprandial and diurnal patterns of feed intake, rumen ammonia, and peripheral BU. Time of eating can therefore affect splanchnic and peripheral nitrogen metabolism and efficiency in lactating cows. These data serve as a metabolic model for other high-producing livestock and humans.