A total of 18 pregnant multiparous Rahmani ewes (40.65 ± 1.16 Kg. live body
weight) belonging to the Agriculture Experimental and Research Station. Faculty of
Agriculture. Cairo University were utilized to investigate the effect of different eve Is or
dietary protein on some blood hematological and biochemical measurements.
lactation performance and growth of offspring. The experiment began 4 weeks before
the expected lambing date and lasted till 105 days atter lambing (15 days a~ef lamb
weaning). Treatments were 100% (control), 80% and 120"AI of NRC (1985) crude
protein recommended allowances for sheep. Resolts indicated that changes in blood hematocr1t percent of ewes due to
dietary crude protein level were not significant with a tendency to be decreased with
the low dietary protein level. Meanwhile. blood hemoglobin and plasma tola protein
and globulin concentrations increased with the high level or protein fed while plasma
alblMnin decreased due to decreasing dietary crude protein level by 20% relative to
those fed the control diet. Both the increase or decrease in dietary protein decreased
plasma AJG ratio. Changes in plasma urea showed an increase due to in easing
dietary protein. Decreasing protein content of the diet by 20% increased plasma
creaUnine relative to the oUler groups. Activity of both ~Vef enzymes (GOT and GPT,
lUI L) decreased with the high level of dielary protein. Ewes daily mAk production changed with feeding different levels 0 prolein
from -6.0 % to +7.9 relative to the control for 80 and 120 % aude protein,
respectively. Belter milk constituents (total solids, fat, solids not fat and pro in) and
milk gross energy accompanied the highest dietary protein level (120 %). Final body weight of ewes fed the highest crude protein level was the highest
(34.7,33.8 and 34.2 Kg on high, low and control diets, respectively). Decreasing crude protein in ewes diets decreased lamb birth weight y 7.4%
relative to the other groups. Lamb weaning weight, weight gain till weaning, average
daily gain and relative growth rate as a percentage 01 birth weight were linearly
increased with increasing protein in dams rations. It can be concluded that decreasing CP of Rahmani ewes rations b 20% of
NRC (1985) starting 4 weeks prepartum through suckling resulted In decreasl g lamb
birth and weaning weights with decreasing the ability of the dams to recompensate
their weights los 1 during lactation. Meanwhile, ewes red on the recommended level
showed satisfactory performance. but those red on 120% of the allowences showed
better performance as lactation performance which was reflected on greater growth of
lambs.