EFFECT OF USING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTEIN IN THE DEIT AND FATTENING PERIOD ON BODY DIEMENSIONS OF IRAQI LAMBS

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to find out the best fattening period and optimal level of protein in fattening rations and studied their effects on live body parameters of lambs.Thirty Awassi lambs (males) with age (5-6 months) which were used in animal field that belongs to Animal Resources Dept.,College of Agriculture and Forestry,Mosul University.This experiment that dealt with different fattening periods namely(1-55),(1-85),(1-115) days and different levels of protein that were 12.04, 14.26, 16.21% in fattening rations of lambs.The statistical analysis results showed that there were a high significantly effect (P≤0.01) of fattening periods on live body weight and dimensions of lambs.The average of live body weight were 36.18,39.72,47.34 kg, chest girth were equal 72.50,78.38,85.61cm,abdomen girth were 81.11,84.55,90.38 cm,fore body height were 60.16,63.86,66.72cm,rear body height were 62.55,65.90,69.00cm,fore body thickness were 15.66,18.51,22.61 cm,rear body thickness were 19.33,22.71,25.11cm and body length were 55.00,59.42,61.97 cm respectively.While the protein level in fattening rations the statistical analysis of results appeared that there were a high significantly effect (P≤0.01) of protein level on live body weight and its dimensions of lambs.The average of live body weight were 38.88, 40.87, 43.50 kg, chest girth were equal 77.16, 78.22, 80.61cm, abdomen girth were 83.05, 85.86, 87.14 cm, for body height were 62.00,63.34,65.40cm,rear body height were 64.34,65.77,67.33cm,fore body thickness were 16.97,19.05,20.76cm,rear body thickness were 21.16, 22.60, 23.39 cm and body length were 57.03,58.96,60.40 cm respectively.As for the interaction between the fattening period and protein level in diet the results of statistical analysis showed that there were a high significantly differences of interaction (p≤0.01) on all traits above of live body weight and its dimensions of lambs.In conclusion,we found an increase by fattening period with high protein level in diet that leads to the important improvement of body weight and its measurements of Awassi lambs.