Effect of Feeding Feed Blocks Enriched with Different Sources of Protein on the Performance of Awassi Ewes during Late Pregnancy, Suckling and Milking Stages

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding feed
blocks (FB) enriched with different sources of protein on the performance of
Awassi ewes during late pregnancy, suckling and milking stages. Experiment
(1) was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding feed blocks enriched with
different sources of protein on the performance of Awassi ewes during late
pregnancy. Eighty pregnant Awassi ewes (mean live weight 09.91±0.31 Kg),
aged 3-5 years were allocated into four groups according to ewes’ live weight.
First group (T1) fed ordinary high energy FB (OFB) + straw (ad-libitum). The
second group (T2) fed FB enriched with cottonseed meal (FBCSM) + straw (adlibitum).
The third group (T3) fed FB enriched with sunflower seed meal
(FBSSM) + straw (ad-libitum). The fourth group (T4) fed barley grains + straw
(ad-libitum) (Farmer practice). Experiment (2) was conducted to investigate the
effect of feeding high energy feed blocks enriched with different sources of
protein on the performance of Awassi ewes during suckling and milking stages.
Sixty-four Awassi ewes (mean live weight 03.62 ±1.13 kg), aged 3-5 years were
allocated into four groups according to ewes’ live weight and milk yield. First
group (T1) fed OFB + barley grains + straw (ad-libitum). The second group
(T2) fed FBCSM + barley grains + straw (ad-libitum). The third group (T3)
FBSSM + barley grains + straw (ad-libitum). The fourth group (T4) fed barley
grains + straw (ad-libitum) (Farmer practice). The experimental diets were fed
during the last six weeks of pregnancy, 90 days during suckling stage and 45
days during milking stage. The results of Experiment 1 indicated that despite no
significant differences between the four groups on studied traits (ewes weight
changes and lambs birth weight), but there was a trend the groups (T1, T2 and
T3) fed FB performed better than group T4 fed according to the farmer’s
practice. Group T2 that was fed FBCSM had slightly better performance than
groups T1, T3 and T4, which were fed OFB, FBSSM and farmer, practice diets
respectively.