THE EFFECT OF ADDING LICORICE EXTRACT ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LACTATING ZARAIBI GOATS

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine how the use of licorice extracts (LE) as feed additives improved the production of dairy Zaraibi goats. Based on their milk production, animal weight, and age, twenty lactating Zaraibi goats were classified into four comparable groups, each consisting of five animals (Av. body weight, 39.1±2.5 kg). Each animal group received one of the following experimental ration at random treatments: T1 (control ration): consisted of 60% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 20% berseem hay (BH) + 20% Rice straw (RS) and without additives and all experimental treatments T2, T3 and T4 which, Animals were fed, the control ration plus 2, 4 and 6 g /head/day of the LE as fed supplement, respectively. The experimental rations included according to NRC (2007).  Numerically, the T1 group consumed feed more (P< 0.05) than the other groups. However, there were no significant (P>0.05) changes in TDN, DCP and water intakes among all treatments. No significant changes in values of digestibilities, TDN, and DCP among all experimental rations. All tested levels of LE resulted in insignificant increases in milk yield, but it caused significant (P< 0.05) amelioration in feed utilization efficiency values in comparison with the control. Goats supplemented with the 4 g LE/h/d in T3 had the greatest (P< 0.05) values of feed utilization efficiency, while those in T1 recorded the least values. Animals receiving 6g/head/day of LE (T4) had significantly higher levels of fat, protein, and galactose in milk compared to those in T3, while T1 had the lowest values. However, no significant difference was observed in milk total solids, ash, and lactose percentages.  The LE did not significantly affect the measured blood parameters. The T4 ration recorded the highest relative economic efficiency at 217.19%, compared to the control ration 100%. It could be concluded that the LE led to beneficial effects on the productive performance of the lactating Zaraibi goats.