Effects of supplemental feed of maiden Lori-Bakhtiari ewes during late gestation and early lactation on their lamb's growth

Author

Scientific Member of Animal Science Research Department, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization(AREEO), Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of feeding barley grain during late gestation and early lactation on productive performance of maiden Lori-Bakhtiari ewes. Thirty-two maiden ewes were randomly assigned to equal two treatments as the control (fed custom ration) and the supplemented (fed custom ration plus 400 grams/day/head barley grain during 7-13 days before to 10 days after parturition). The lamb's birth weight was measured. Lambs sex, type of birth and mortality were recorded. Each ewe was individually observed for determine lambing difficulties. Lambs were weighed at 10 days, one month and four months (weaning) of age. The average daily gain between birth to 10 days, birth to one month and birth to weaning age were calculated. No significant difference was found for lamb's birth weight among treatments. Lambing difficulties was not observed in ewes of two treatments. The average daily gain from birth to 10 days (P<0.01) and birth to one month (P<0.05) were higher for lambs in the supplemented group than the control. Differences between two groups were not statistically significant for the average daily gain of lambs from birth to weaning, but, twins lambs in the supplemented group were better (P<0.05) than twins lambs in the control for this trait. However, lambs weaning weight in the supplemented group were higher than the control but, the difference was not statistically significant.

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