Effects of Feeding Different Levels of Whole and Ground Flaxseed in Late Pregnancy on the Performance of Karakul Ewes

Subject Areas : Camel

S.H. Hosseini ¹ , M.R. Dehghani ² , A. Karimi ³ , M. Yousef Elahi ⁴ , M.J. Abarghuei ⁵

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2 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
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Received: 2023-12-12 Accepted : 2024-07-08 Published : 2024-09-01

Keywords: apparent digestibility, flaxseed, Karakul ewe, performance, pregnancy,

Abstract :

This study were conducted to determine the effect of different levels of flaxseed, whole and ground (8 and 15%), in late pregnancy on the performance of ewes. 30 Karakul ewes (ages between 2 and 2.5 years old, mean weight of 55±2.5 kg) were used in a completely randomised design with five treatments and six repli-cates. Treatments include: 1) control diet, a diet without flaxseed; 2) a diet containing 8% whole flaxseed (WFS-L); 3) a diet containing 15% whole flaxseed (WFS-H); 4) a diet containing 8% ground flaxseed (GFS-L); and 5) a diet containing 15% ground flaxseed (GFS-H). The addition of flaxseed (whole and ground) had no significant effect on dry matter intakes or body weight changes in ewes and lambs (P>0.05), but in comparison, crude protein and ether extract digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher in ewes fed whole and ground flaxseed compared to those fed the control diet. The yield and composition of colos-trum were not affected by experimental treatments (P>0.05), except for colostrum protein, which increased by using treatments with whole flaxseed (P<0.05). Glucose and cholesterol in blood plasma were signifi-cantly increased in ewes fed whole and ground flaxseed compared to the control treatment. (P<0.05), and the highest blood glucose and cholesterol levels were observed in the treatment of 15% whole flaxseed. The research showed that whole flaxseed (15%) can be added to sheep's diets, and it can be concluded that proc-essing flaxseed for ewes in late pregnancy might not be necessary to improve performance.

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