Abstract

This study was conducted at the Animal Production Department of the College of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk, from September 2, 2024 to December 17, 2024, to assess the effects of green tea extract, and a mixture of vitamins A and E on growth and reproductive indicators in Awassi ewes and their offspring. A total of 20 pregnant ewes (average weight 56.6 ± 4.70 kg) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each with five ewes. The first group was the control (water only), the second received green tea extract at 100 mg/kg body weight, the third received green tea extract at 200 mg/kg body weight, and the fourth received a combination of 400 IU/kg of vitamin A and 200 mg/kg of vitamin E along with the green tea extract. The study tracked the physiological stages of pregnancy from day 50 (middle stage) to birth, and the post-birth stages. Results showed that ewes receiving the green tea extract at 200 mg/kg body weight demonstrated the highest weight gain in their lambs (84.69%), followed by ewes treated with the mixture of vitamins A and E. The ewes treated with the 200 mg/kg green tea dose also exhibited superior reproductive performance, with a higher number of embryos (6) and twin pregnancies (2). While the vitamin A + E mixture showed positive effects, it was less effective than the higher dose of green tea. The results suggest that supplementing ewes with green tea extract and vitamins A and E enhances both growth and reproductive indicators in Awassi ewes and their lambs.