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 1st 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: 1st group: ewes with high BW and high MY, 2nd group: ewes with high BW and law MY, 3rd group: ewes with low BW and high MY, 4th 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 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks, the best significant interactions (P≤0.05) were recorded in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd group at 8th weeks. Also, there is a significant increase (P≤0.05) in BWG in the HE at 8th week. The effect of MY was evident in milk production, MY of HW and high milk (HM) increased significantly at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks. Also a significant increase (P≤0.05) in milk fat% in HM ewes at 2nd, 6th and 8th weeks after lambing. On other hand the results revealed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in lactose % in Light Ewes Milk (LE) at 8th week and Low Milk Ewes (LOM) at 4th week, also solid non-fat components % increased significantly in LE at 2nd 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.

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