Abstract
Twelve awassi ewes (43.5) kg and twelve hamdani ewes (62) kg, 3-5 years old in early stage of lactation were used in this study. Each breed was divided into two groups each of 6 ewes with their individual lambs according to their weight and milk yield. The ewes were fed twice a day 1.85kg / ewe. The ration was 92% concentrated and 8% roughage (wheat straw). The first group of awassi and hamadani ewes was given untreated soybean meal while in the second was replaced by heat treated soybean meal. The results showed no significant effect of the interaction between feeding untreated or treated soybean meal and ewes breed on milk production which was 698. 776 gm/day in the Awassi ewes compared with 773 and 910 gm/day in the Hamdani ewes. Also there was no significant differ- rences in milk components except in milk fat and milk energy value which significantly increased (p< 0.05) with the Hamdani ewes which was fed on heat treated soybean meal 5.95% and 999 kcal/kg compared with untreated 4.28% and 860 kcal/kg and also compared with Awassi ewes which fed untreated 3.76 % and 808 kcal L kg or heat treated soybean meal 3.88% and 801 kcal/kg respectively. Treatment soybean meal with heat led to un significant improvement in milk production 843 gm/day and significantly (p< 0.05) in milk fat 4.91% compared un treated 711 and 4.02%. Ewes type had no significant effect on milk production 733 and 821gm/day. While milk fat and energy value increased significantly (p< 0.05) with Hamdani ewes 5.11 and 929 kcal/kg compared with the Awassi 3.82% and 805 kcal/kg. Blood parameters were not affected by either the heat treatment or ewes type and the interaction.