Effect of Feeding Sesame Oil Cake and Milking periods on milk Production and Chemical Composition in Awassi Sheep

Abstract

This study was conducted by using (24) Awassi ewes at same ages (3-4 years) and weights (40-50 kg.) were chosen randomly from sheep flock at Al-Rashdia station/ Mosul, Foundation Of Agricultural Station Research. The Ewes were divided into three groups after weaning their single lambs, and fed on three rations contain same crude protein (14%) and metabolizable energy (2815 kg.cal /kg.feed), but different in sesame oil cake percentage f (0, 6 and 12 %) for sixty days. The effect of using a different percentage of sesame oil cake and milking periods were studied on daily and total milk production and chemical composition. The result indicated that daily and total milk produ- ction, and ewe weight were increased significantly (p≤0.05), while the perce- ntage of lactose, protein, and total solid were decreased significantly (p≤0.05), as the sesame oil cake was increased to 12% in the ration. Also milking periods have significantly (p≤0.05) affected all chemical percentages of milk.