REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES IN SHEEP UNDER THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FEEDING SYSTEMS

Abstract

This study was carried out in Noubaria experimental station, Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture.

The main objectives were measuring of some physiological and productive changes in sheep fed the traditional rations (14% protein) with some feed additives and ammoniated such as molasses-liquid, molasses blocks or ammoniated of bean straw with ammonia (through urea 4%).

The effects of such different feeding systems on the nutritive values, nitrogen utilization in rams and reproductive performance of ewes were also investigated.

Thirty two ewes cross-breed and 12 Barki rams were used in this study. The animals were classified into four random group. Each group had eight ewes and 3 rams.

All sheep were treated against internal and external parasites, vaccinated against anaerobic bacteria, Rift Vally fever and were tested against Brucellosis.

The four groups of sheep were assigned to be fed on :-

1- The first group was the control group and was fed concentrated feed mixture (CFM) containing 14% CP (2% of body weight) in addition to unammoniated bean-straw (ad-lib).

2- Second group fed as in first group, but molasses blocks were introouced in the trough to be available for animal all the time