Fifty Saidi ewes of about 4-6 years allotted to 2 feeding groups. control group < /p>
(M) fed 100% maintenance and treated group (2M) fed 200% maintenance. Each
group was divided into two subgroups, injected (IP) and non-injected (NI) with
progesterone hormone. The M and 2M ewes groups diets were given diets from
mating till 11 days of mating. then after and till that to the end of the experiment both
groups fed according to the feeding system in the farm. Injection with (P) was given in
day 11 of mating. Blood samples were taken before mating zero. 11. 16, and 21 days
of mating for determination serum progesterone. T3 and T4 concentrations. rectal
temperature (RT) respiration rate (RR) were recorded in both groups at 0. 30. 60, and
120 day of mating also before and after parturition. The re5ults obtained can be
summarized as follows: Ewes fed 2M had higher conception rate, and tambing rate.
and total lambs than those fed M either injected or non injected. Ewes fed on 2M diet
had higher birth weights of lambs than those fed on M one. Ewes fed on M diet had
higher (Ps0.01) serum progesterone concentration at day 11 and lower (Pr-0.01) at
day 16 after mating compared with those fed on 2M one. Ewes injected with
progesterone had higher (Pr-0.01) serum progesterone concentration than that of NI
ewes at days 16 and 21 after mating.
Ewes (IP) had higher RT (P<0.05) at mating and (Ps0.01) at day 30 till before
parturition than those (Ni). Ewes fed on (2M) diet and (IP) had higher RT than those of
other groups at day 30 after mating till after parturition. Feeding level or progesterone
injection had no significant effect on RR. Progesterone injection had no significant
effect on RR, with exception of that before and after parturition, which were higher (lP)
ewes than (N!) ones. Ewes fed on (2M) diet had higher serum T3 and T4
concentration than those fed on (M) one. Ewes (IP) had higher serum T3 before
mating till day 21 after mating. whereas serum T4 concentrations were slightly higher
in the injected ewes than that of (NI) ones at days 11, 16 and 21 after mating. Ewes
fed on (2M) diet and non-injected with progesterone hormone had higher T3 and T4
before and at mating whereas ewes fed on (2M) and injected had higher T3 and T4
concentrations at days 11, 16 and 21 after mating compared with other treatments.