EFFECT OF RUMEN UNDEGRADABLE PROTEIN IN THE DIET OF LACTATING AWASSI EWES ON MILK-YIELD, MILK-COMPOSITION AND FINAL EWE AND LAMB WEIGHT

Two complete isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated to co ntain different levels of undegradable protein (UDP), containing eithe r 179 g/kg or 340 g/kg of UDP as a percentage of total protein. In two weeks post lambing, the diets were offered to lactating Awassi ewes ( n = 39) for a period of 90 days. Ewe milk yield was measured at two we ekly intervals following a 12 hour period of separation from the lambs . The increased proportion of UDP in the diet did not have any signifi cant effect on the body weight of ewes and lambs, milk yield and compo sition.