A Study of Some Wool Traits of Barki Sheep Fed on Nigella sativa Cake under Desert Conditions

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Abstract
This study was conducted at Maryout Research Station, Desert Research Center (33 km south west of Alexandia), toinvestigate the effect of feeding Nigella sativa cake (NSC) as a protein source on wool production and characteristics ofthe growing male Barki lambs under the semi-arid conditions.Twenty one growing male Barki lambs (3 months) weighing 22.90 kg were used in this study, from weaning up tosexual maturity (300 days). Animals were randomly distributed to three equal groups with seven lambs each. The firstgroup was fed on concentrate feed mixture (CFM) containing 35% undecorated cotton seed meal (CSM) and served as acontrol group. The second (G2) and third (G3) groups were fed on the same concentrate mixture in which the proteinsource was partially replaced by 5 and 10 % of NSC, respectively.The results revealed that using Nigella sativa cake as an alternative protein source at levels of 5% (G2) and 10% (G3)significantly improved final body weight, daily gain, greasy fleece weight and clean wool yield. It also improved (P<0.01)wool traits that including staple length, staple strength, point of staple break and staple elongation rate. Wool bulk andresilience were also improved by the two levels of NSC as both traits are considered as indicators for wool qualityaffecting carpet manufacture.

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