This work was carried out on Rahmani ewes to investigate the effect of some feeding schemes on productive performance as well as some rumen and blood parameters. Fifty pregnant ewes were divided into five equal groups and fed according to NRC (1985) allowances. Treatments tested were given 80% NRC of both total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein (CP) (G1), 100% NRC of both TDN and CP (G2), 120% NRC of both TDN and CP (G3), 80% CP and 120% TDN (G4) and 120% NRC of CP and 80% TDN (G5). The animals were in the late pregnancy period and continued for 60 days of lambing (or weaning).
The main results showed that daily feed intake during the late pregnancy period was lower than that consumed during the suckling period. The daily water consumption recorded the highest values with G1 (421.5 and 558.7 ml/kgw0.75 for late pregnancy and suckling periods, respectively). Whereas the lowest values were recorded with G3 (324.2 and 450.6 ml/kgw0.75 for late pregnancy and suckling periods, respectively). The NH3-N concentration post-feeding increased with increasing feeding level and /or dietary protein. Similarly, microbial protein values were higher with G3 and it's recorded the highest values at all times. Moreover, ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA's) concentration at the 4 and 6 hrs were significantly higher in rumen of ewes fed 100% (G2) and high level of energy (G3 and G4) compared to G1 and G5 (low level of energy).
Concentration of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit values (Hct), red blood cells (RBC's), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBC's) and platelets in ewes serum were higher in G3 than the other groups. Also, ewes fed 80% NRC (G1) had significantly lower values of serum Urea- N, uric acid, cholesterol, calcium and ALT than these fed 120% NRC (G3). At the late pregnancy period, the concentration of creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride and activities of serum AST, ALT and ALP increased significantly than during the suckling period. On the contrary, serum glucose concentration was highest in the suckling period than in the late pregnancy period. The highest value of live body weight at lambing was recorded with G3 then G2 followed by G4 and G5 and lastly G1. Also, LBW of ewes at the weaning was lower in G1 than in other groups. Ewes given 100% NRC (G3) were lower in still birth cases than these fed the other rations. The total number of still birth lambs were recorded the highest value with G1 and G5 and the lowest values were detected with G2. Thus, output measured as kilograms lambs produced per ewe improved significantly due to the both treatment G2 and G3. Accordingly, the economic efficiency was higher with G2 compared the other groups.