الفهرس 
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Abstract
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ABSTRACT
Three experiments were carried out in this study during 10 months, the first experiment was carried out on 51 local ewes and the second experiment was carried out on 9 ewes, while the third experiment was conducted on a mature fistulated Buffalo bull.
The rations provided to animals were classified into three experimental rations. The first ration (control) was made up of 28% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) and wheat straw, The second ration consisted of 50% CFM, 30% fresh alfalfa and 20% maize and The third ration composed of 60% fresh alfalfa and 40% maize, on DM basis. The rations were offered to ewes in quantities to meet the nutrient requirements according to NRC (1985). Animals in exp. 1 and 2 were randomly allotted into three treatment groups, the 1st group was control which consumed the 1st ration, treatment 1(T1) which consumed the 2nd ration and treatment 1(T2) which consumed the 3rd ration. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of feeding alfalfa alone or with maize as a source of energy on feeding and reproductive performance of ewes.
Results revealed that control group which was fed on CFM and wheat straw had a significant (P≤0.05) increase in conception rate and lambing rates than the other groups T1 and T2 which were fed on rations contained alfalfa. On the other hand, T2 had the highest concentration of Progesterone than the other groups T1 and control at the 3rd day before estrus day. A significantly increase in a crude protein disappearance of alfalfa than concentrate feed mixture or maize was observed at 4 hrs post-incubation.
This study showed that the use of alfalfa caused low reproductive efficiency of ewes and recommended the maximum adding fresh green alfalfa on the dry matter basis in the diets of ewes should not to exceed 30% of the total nutrient requirements.