IMPACT OF PROTECTED METHIONINE AND LYSINE ON BODY WEIGHTS DURING PREGNANCY, LACTATION PERIODS AND SOME INDICATORS OF PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF WOOL IN AWASSI EWES

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of protected methionine and lysine in the weights of ewes, their lamb's and wool growth . This study was conducted for the period from 1/5/2018 until 1/5/2019 in Bayoubakht area 20 km north of Mosul, in a private farm, using 16 pregnant Awassi ewes with average body weight 49.07±0.85 and aged 2-3 years. Ewes were divided into two groups, fed with a restricted amount of 1.5 kg per ewe daily of standard ration without supplement in a control group, or ration supplemented with protected methionine 2.5g and lysine 2.5g per ewe daily in PRML group. Results were revealed that feeding with protected amino acids had no significant effects in ewes body weight during stages of pregnancy and milk production, but led to a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in lambs weight in the second and third month after birth (16.60 and 18.42 kg) and total weight gain 14.11 kg as compared with Control 12.90, 14.28 kg and 9.57 kg respectively, as well as significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase was noted in wool fleece in PRML group 2.16 kg as compared with C ontrol group 1.89 kg, also average wool tress length and fiber length was improved when ewes fed with protected methionine and lysine by a ratio of 24.02 and 21.99% respectively as compared with the control. In conclusion, supplementation of ewes ration with protected methionine and lysine during pregnancy and lactating stages improve the growth performance of lambs, wool production, and characteristics.

Keywords

• protected amino acids
• body weight
• wool growth