• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2020

The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of season and breed on the reproductive performance of male and female sheep using 12 rams and 318 ewes of Assaf and Awassi breeds under the seasonal environmental condition of United Arab Emirates for two years. The blood level of testosterone hormone was measured monthly. Semen was collected twice a month from each male using artificial vagina and evaluated for volume, motility, livability, abnormality and concentration. The scrotal circumference and thickness as well as the left testicular length, width, height and volume were measured at one-month intervals. The level of testosterone in Assaf breed was significantly higher in autumn than winter and summer. The scrotal circumference and thickness as well as the left testicular length were significantly higher in Assaf breed than Awassi breed. While, left testicular width and volume were significantly higher in Awassi breed than Assaf breed. Scrotal circumference which was higher in spring and summer than in autumn and winter season in both breeds. The SCC of semen was significantly higher in autumn than in other seasons in both breeds. The sperm abnormality was significantly higher in summer than other seasons in both breeds. The livability was significantly lower in summer in both breeds. Fecundity and prolificacy were significantly higher in Assaf than Awassi breed during autumn season. Assaf breed showed the superior reproductive performance in the autumn season when compared with Awassi breed in the same season and other seasons. The Assaf breed tolerated the climatic conditions in UAE and kept the litter size of 1.72 in comparison to Awassi breed which showed litter size of 1.09. in conclusion, the results showed the superiority of Assaf over Awassi breed and offer a good model of breeding with increased fecundity and prolificacy specially in autumn season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권8호
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• pp.1125-1128
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• 2001

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding undegradable intake protein (VIP) on body weight changes and the return to estrus of Awassi ewes during the early postpartum period. Twenty multiparous Awassi ewes $(BW=57.4{\pm}3.0kg)$ were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment (10 ewes per treatment) for 4 weeks in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, isocaloric, and were formulated to contain either 20% (CON) or 35% (SBM) of the dietary CP as UIP. On day $9{\pm}3$ postpartum (day 0=parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens. Feed intake was recorded daily. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), crude protein intake (CPI), undegradable protein intake (UPI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) were higher (p<0.05) for ewes on SBM diets compared with ewes on CON diet. Ewes receiving SBM diet gained more (p<0.05) weight than the controls (5.3 vs 0.5 kg). There was a tendency (p>0.10) for SBM ewes to have more luteal activity than the controls. Ewes in the SBM group came into estrus 4 days earlier than CON ewes (p<0.10). These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate nutrition are capable of returning to estrus one month postpartum thus posing the possibility of being able to lamb every 6 months.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.1395-1399
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary fat inclusion on nutrient intake, body weight, milk production, return to estrus, pregnancy and lambing of winter-lambing, postpartum Awassi ewes. Thirty multiparous, winter-lambing Awassi ewes (body weight=51${\pm}$7.0 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n=10) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous, and were formulated to contain 0 (CON), 2.5 (MF), and 5% (HF) added fat, and 33% of the dietary crude protein (CP) as undegradable intake protein (UIP). On day 26 postpartum (day 0=parturition), ewes and their lambs were housed in individual pens for 28 days. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, ewes and their lambs within each treatment were combined into one group and fed their respective diet ad libitum. One fertile Awassi ram fitted with a marking harness was allowed with each group for 34 days. No significant (p>0.05) differences in dry matter intake, organic matter intake, and crude protein intake were observed for ewes fed the three experimental diets. No difference was observed in metabolizable energy intake (MEI) for ewes fed the CON and the MF diets (average 8.3 Mcal/d) diet. However, ewes fed the HF diet had greater(p<0.05) MEI compared with the rest of the treatments. Ewe body weights increased throughout the study, unaffected by the experimental diets. No significant differences in milk production were found among ewes fed the three experimental diets. No significant differences were observed in pregnancy rate (6/10, 5/10, 6/10 for CON, MF and HF diets, respectively), lambing rate and the number of lambs per ewe among the three treatments. postpartum reproductive performance of well-fed, winter-lambing Awassi ewes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권8호
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• pp.1169-1175
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• 2018

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the impacts of active and passive immunization against synthetic inhibin and steroid-free bovine follicular fluid, respectively, on reproductive fecundity out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes. Methods: Follicular fluid was aspired from mature bovine follicles, treated with activated charcoal, and used for immunization of male rabbits for obtaining steroid free bovine follicular fluid (SFBFF) antiserum. Forty non-pregnant Awassi ewes were allocated into 4 groups (n = 10 each). At day 38 of experiment, ewes were treated with intra-vaginal MPA sponge (60 mg for 12 days). At days 0, 28, and 50, ewes were treated with 4, 2, and 2 mL of normal saline (control; C-ve), 400, 200, and $200{\mu}g$ of ovalbumin (C+ve), 400, 200 and $200{\mu}g$ of inhibin (SI group), respectively, and 4 mL of normal saline at day 0, and 4 and 2 mL of SFBFF antiserum at days 28 and 50, respectively, (AI group). After mating with Awassi rams, pregnancy and embryo number were diagnosed, at day 38 of pregnancy, using ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected at days 30, 60, 90, and 120 of pregnancy, for assessment of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels. After parturition, numbers of delivered lambs were recorded. Results: The results revealed significant increase of P4 and significant decrease of E2 levels in SI and AI pregnant ewes than controls at days 30, 60, 90, and 120. Newborn number increased significantly in SI and AI treated than control ewes. Conclusion: Active or passive immunization against endogenous inhibin could augment reproductive fecundity out of breeding season in Iraqi Awassi ewes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.637-642
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary undegradable protein (UP) level on body weight change, nutrient intake, milk production and postpartum reproductive performance of Awassi ewes. Twenty-seven multiparous Awassi ewes (initial body weight = 53.3${\pm}$1.6 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (9 ewes/treatment) for 62 days using a completely randomized design. Experimental diets were isonitrogenous (15.5% CP), isocaloric, and were formulated to contain 17.9 (LUP), 27.1 (MUP), and 34.0% (HUP) of the dietary CP as UP. On day 10${\pm}$3 (day 0 = parturition) ewes were housed in individual pens for 5 weeks. Feed offered and refused was recorded daily. At the end of this period, animals were removed from their pens and combined into 3 separate groups (LUP, MUP and HUP). One fertile, harnessed ram was allowed with each group for 34 days. Rams were rotated every 2 days among the three groups. Each group was offered the corresponding experimental diet. Organic matter, CP, UP and metabolizable energy intakes were higher (p<0.05) for ewes fed the HUP diet compared with ewes fed the LUP and MUP diets. Ewes fed the HUP diet gained more (p<0.05) weight compared with ewes fed the MUP diet (7.3 vs. 2.1 kg), while ewes fed the LUP diet lost an average of 2.1 kg. Pregnancy rate of ewes fed the HUP diet was 100%, compared with 66 and 33% for ewes fed the MUP and LUP diets, respectively. Lambing rate was greater (p<0.05) for ewes fed HUP (8/9) diet compared with ewes fed the MUP (4/9) and LUP (3/9) diets. These results indicate that Awassi ewes receiving adequate dietary UP level consume more feed and are capable of returning to estrus shortly after parturition and are capable of producing two lamb crops per year.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권9호
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2002

The objective was to identify the appropriate form of progesterone, which exhibits compact reproductive responses in Awassi ewes during mid to late seasonal anestrous period. Forty-eight Awassi ewes were randomly allocated into four groups to be treated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP), 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA), 40 mg FGA, or 600 mg progesterone sponges. After a 12 day period, sponges were removed and ewes were administered i.m. with 600 IU PMSG (d 0, 0 h). Five harnessed Awassi rams were turned-in with the ewes to detect heat. Ewes were checked for breeding marks at 6 h intervals for 5 days. Blood samples were collected from all ewes for analysis of progesterone concentrations. Pretreatment (d -13 and -12) progesterone concentrations were ${\leq}0.2ng/mL$ among all ewes and were indicative of seasonal anestrous period. On d 0, progesterone concentrations were elevated to $1.4{\pm}0.1ng/mL$ in ewes received progesterone sponges only and were higher (p<0.0001) than those (${\leq}0.2ng/mL$) administered MAP or FGA sponges. Progesterone concentrations returned to their basal values of <0.2 ng/mL within 24 h of sponge removal and were similar (p>0.1) among all ewes. Incidence of estrus was similar (p>0.1) among the four groups and occurred in 75% (9/12), 82% (9/11), 67% (8/12) and 58% (7/12) of the ewes receiving MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively. Estrous responses occurred 14.7, 20 and 13.6 h earlier in progesterone-sponge-treated ewes than those of MAP- (p<0.04), 30 mg FGA- (p<0.01) and 40 mg FGA-treated (p=0.06) ewes, respectively. Induced estrus conception rates were 50% (6/12), 55% (6/11), 50% (6/12) and 42% (5/12), out of which 4/6, 4/6, 3/6 and 3/5 lambed 151 days following d 0, and were similar (p>0.1) among ewes of the four treatment groups. Ewes that returned to estrus 16 to 20 days following d 0 were 5/12, 5/11, 6/12 and 4/12 ewes treated with MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively, and all lambed 169 days later. Overall lambing rates were 75% (9/12), 82% (9/11), 75% (9/12) and 58% (7/12) ewes treated with MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges, respectively. Results demonstrate that applications of MAP, 30 mg FGA, 40 mg FGA and progesterone sponges Awassi ewes were equally effective in induction of estrus and tended to favor both types of FGA and MAP in overall lambing rates over progesterone sponges during the seasonal anestrous period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

The study was conducted to compare the dry matter intake and digestibility of Atriplex halimus (AH) and Atriplex nummularia (AN) and determine the proper proportion of saltbushes for partial replacement of alfalfa hay in the diets of Awassi sheep. The foliage of AH and AN were hand-plucked, air-dried in shade and then chopped mechanically similar to alfalfa hay. Two trials were conducted separately to determine voluntary feed intake and digestibility of saltbush browse. In the first trial, fifteen 8 month old Awassi lambs were distributed into 3 equal groups, and each animal was housed in individual pen. Each group received one of three dietary treatments: chopped alfalfa hay (H), dried foliage of Atriplex nummularia or foliage of Atriplex halimus. In the second trial, twentyseven 12 months old Awassi male lambs were randomly selected, distributed into nine equal groups, and housed into metabolic crates. Each group of animals received one of nine dietary treatments: alfalfa hay, AN, AH and different proportions (25, 50 and 75%) of AN or AH mixed with alfalfa hay. Forage type had a significant (p<0.001) effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and growth rate of lambs of the voluntary feed intake trial. Lambs receiving the alfalfa hay diet showed high DMI and high growth rate compared to those fed the diets containing saltbush. In the digestibility trial, dietary treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on DMI, dry matter digestibility (DMD) (p<0.01) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) (p<0.01). The inclusion of AN in the diet up to 50% had no significant effect on DMI and DMD, whereas the inclusion of AH above 25% reduced DMI, DMD and OMD. The treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on water intake and on live weight changes of lambs. Except for the diet containing 25% of AN browse, all lambs fed diets containing the saltbushes exhibited loss in body weight. The nutritive value of Atriplex nummularia foliage is better than that of A. halimus and it is possible to replace up to 50% of alfalfa hay by A. nummularia without negative effects on intake and digestibility of dry matter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.33-36
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• 2012

A total of 423 blood samples were collected (during 2009 and 2010) from all the ram holdings at three major Jordanian governmental Awassi breeding stations (Al-Khanasry, Al- Mushairfa and Al-Fjaje) and two private flocks. All blood samples were screened for the presence of mutations at the CNGA3 gene (responsible for day blindness in Awassi sheep) using RFLP-PCR. The day blindness mutation was detected in all studied flocks. The overall allele and genotype frequencies of all studied flocks of the day blindness mutation were 0.088 and 17.49%, respectively. The genotype and allele frequencies were higher in station flocks than the farmer flocks (0.121, 24.15 and 0.012, 2.32, respectively). Al-Mushairfa and Al-Khanasry stations have the highest genotype and allele frequencies for the day blindness mutation that were 27.77, 30.00% and 0.14, 0.171, respectively. The investigated farmer flocks have low percentages (0.03, 5.88% at Al-Shoubak and 0.005 and 1.05%, at Al-Karak, respectively for genotype and allele frequencies) compared with the breeding stations. Ram culling strategy was applied throughout the genotyping period in order to gradually eradicate this newly identified day blindness mutation from Jordanian Breeding station, since they annually distribute a high percentage of improved rams to farmer's flocks.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.1236-1240
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of early weaning on body weight change, milk production and the return to estrus in Awassi ewes. Twenty multiparous winter-lambing Awassi ewes were randomly assigned to either suckled (S, n=10) or non-suckled (NS, n=10) groups in a completely randomized design. Lambs in the NS group were removed from their dams on day 2 postpartum (PP). Animal body weights (BW) and body condition scores (BCS) were recorded at the beginning of the study and every 3 weeks thereafter until the end of the experiment. Milk production was estimated by machine milking at weekly intervals for 4 weeks beginning on d 11 PP. Blood samples were collected from each ewe every third day for 4 weeks beginning on day 15 PP. Initial body weight was similar for both treatments. By the end of the experiment, NS ewes gained an average of 1.8${\pm}$1.0 kg while S ewes lost an average of 7.0${\pm}$1.0 kg (p<0.001). Body condition scores followed a trend similar to that observed for BW and was greater (p<0.001) in the NS ewes. Significant correlation existed (p<0.01) between BW and BCS (r=0.77). The first milk production recording for both suckled and non-suckled was similar. Later recordings, however, showed that the S group had greater milk production (p<0.01) compared with the NS group. Lambs in the NS group were heavier (p<0.05) than those in the S group on d 10 PP. By the end of the study, lamb weights in the NS group were significantly lower (p<0.001) when compared with S group. The first rise in plasma progesterone ($P_{4}$) occurred earlier (p<0.05) in the NS than S ewes (day 27.0${\pm}$2.2 vs. 34.0${\pm}$2.2 postpartum, respectively). All of the NS ewes (10/10) and 60% (6/10) of the S ewes expressed estrus following ram introduction (p<0.05). Results of the current study indicate that non-suckled ewes gained more weight and displayed ovarian activity earlier than suckled ewes. Early lamb removal can be used to obtain biannual lambing in Awassi sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권8호
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• pp.1132-1137
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• 2012

Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of barley grain with bread by-product (BB) on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs. Forty Awassi ewes rearing single lambs were randomly allotted into four experimental diets containing various levels of BB. The experimental diets contained 0 (BB0), 10 (BB10), 15 (BB15), and 20% (BB20) of BB on dietary dry matter (DM). The study lasted for eight weeks, in which the first week was used as an adaptation period and seven weeks of data collection. Ewes and their lambs were penned individually where they were fed their lactating diets ad libitum. Ewes and lambs body weights were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. However, milk production and composition were evaluated biweekly. Feeding BB had no effect (p>0.05) on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) intakes. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was the lowest (p<0.05) for the BB20 and BB15 diets followed to BB10 diet (i.e., 640, 677, 772 g/d, respectively) while the highest NDF intake was for the BB0 diet (i.e., 825 g/d). Similarly, NDF intake decreased linearly (p<0.001) as the BB content increased. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was highest (p<0.05) for the BB0 and BB10 diets (425 and 416 g/d, respectively) followed by the BB15 and BB20 diets (359 and 342 g/d, respectively). Moreover, a linear (p<0.001), quadratic (p = 0.04), and cubic (p = 0.04) effects were observed in ADF intake among diets. Nutrient digestibility was similar among different diets. Bread by-product had no effect (p>0.05) on ewes body weight change and on lamb performance (i.e., weaning body weight and average daily gain). Similarly, no differences (p>0.05) were observed either in milk production or composition by the BB substitution. Inclusion of BB reduced feed cost by 9, 14, and 18% for the BB10, BB15, and BB20 diets, respectively. No differences were observed in milk efficiency (DM intake: milk production; p>0.05) among diets. However, cost of milk production ($US/kg milk) was the lowest (p<0.05) in the diet containing BB20. Results of the present study indicate that feeding bread by-product up to 20% of the diet DM had no effect on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs and reduced feed cost.