THE INFLUENCE OF FEEDING FREQUENCY AND NANO-SELENIUM DRENCHING ON MILK PRODUCTION AND BLOOD TRAITS OF AWASSI EWES

An investigation was carried out to determine the impact of feeding frequency (FF) and Nano selenium (Na-S) drenching on milk yield and its ingredients and biochemical traits in Awassi ewes' blood. Sixteen Awassi ewes (52.28±1.37 kg body weight) aged 3–4 years with newborn lambs (n = 4) were randomly divided into one of the four experimental groups (n = 4). Ewes in the 1st and 2nd groups were fed the basal ration of two meals (2M) daily and drenched with Nano selenium (Na-S) (2 and 4 mg daily), respectively. While the 3rd and 4th groups, were fed the basal ration three meals (3M) daily and received Na-S (2 and 4 mg daily) orally. Milk yield, fat%, and protein% increased significantly in 2M groups at most weeks, consistent with the significant increase in milk yield of ewes receiving 4 mg of Na-S. In regard to the interaction between FF and Na-S, 2M and 4 Na-S recorded a significant increase in milk yield at most weeks of the study. Feeding ewes 2M daily caused a significant increase in TP, ALB, GLO, GLU, and cholesterol levels; no effects showed for N-Se in blood serum at the 1st month of the study. Finley, CHO level increased significantly in the 2M and 2 Na-S ewe groups, while TRI level decreased significantly (P≤0.05) in the blood serum of the 2M and 2 Na-S groups. In general, feeding systems and Nano-selenium cause an increase in milk yield and fat percentage of Awassi ewes.