Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

In the current study, 32 Awassi ewes 2 -3 years aged were used with their lambs for 12 weeks, to evaluate the effect of Body Weight (BW) and Milk Yield (MY) on Body weight BW, Body Weight Gain (BWG), MY and milk components. After lambing, ewes were weighted directly, then at the 1^st week of lambing, ewes were milked for 2 consecutive days, in order to determine the milk yield, Ewes divided randomly to 4 groups depending on their body weights and milk yield, the groups were: 1^st group: ewes with high BW and high MY, 2^nd group: ewes with high BW and law MY, 3^rd group: ewes with low BW and high MY, 4^th group: ewes with low BW and low MY. The result showed a significant increase (P≤0.05) in BW in heavy ewes (HE) groups at the 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th and 8^th weeks, the best significant interactions (P≤0.05) were recorded in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd group at 8^th weeks. Also, there is a significant increase (P≤0.05) in BWG in the HE at 8^th week. The effect of MY was evident in milk production, MY of HW and high milk (HM) increased significantly at the 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th and 8^th weeks. Also a significant increase (P≤0.05) in milk fat% in HM ewes at 2^nd, 6^th and 8^th weeks after lambing. On other hand the results revealed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in lactose % in Light Ewes Milk (LE) at 8^th week and Low Milk Ewes (LOM) at 4^th week, also solid non-fat components % increased significantly in LE at 2^nd week and HW ewes. In conclusion, the body weight of the lambs that born from the ewes with (heavy weight and high milk production) were significantly higher than other lambs, also, milk production of these ewes was significantly (P≤0.05) higher than other groups.