effect of reducing metabolizable protein with added rumen-protected lysine and methionine on the performance of the pregnant afshari ewes

the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of reducing metabolizable protein with rumen-protected lysine and methionine in diet during the last 5 weeks of gestation on performance and blood parameters of afshari ewes and lambs. twenty five mature (once lambing) ewes in a unbalanced complete randomized design fed with diets containing low metabolizable protein but containing rumen-protected lysine and methionine (lmp + lmrp) and high (hmp), respectively, 20 percent less than and equal to recommendations of nrc (2007), the results showed no difference between the treatments regarding dry matter intake, body weight of ewes at the end of gestation, body weight changes from start of the experiment until the birth, body weight after lambing and 20 days post lambing (p>0.05). decline changes in body weight at lambing was increased in the hmp group rather than lmp+lmrp group and the difference was tend to significant (p