Presented by Jane Wamatu, ICARDA, at the EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training Workshop on Reproduction in Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014

1. Sheep Nutrition for Reproduction
Part II: Use of Focused Nutritional Inputs to Enhance Reproductive
Response of Sheep
Jane Wamatu
EIAR-DBARC-ICARDA-ILRI (LIVES)-FAO Training on Reproduction in
Sheep and Goat, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, 13-15 October 2014
J. Wamatu

2. Introduction
The important principles for the breeding ewe center on the
relationship between the utilization of energy and protein in the diet
 Metabolizable Energy (ME)
ME is a measure of the energy contained in feeds rather than the
production the feeds can support in the animal. ME is the gross energy of
feed minus the losses of energy in faeces, urine and methane
 Protein
The main factor influencing the level of microbial protein synthesis is the
amount of energy available in the rumen

3. Protein degradation, digestion and
utilization
 Proteins in feeds are broken down to ammonia by the microorganisms in
the rumen.
 Microorganisms utilize the ammonia for growth. Energy is required for
this process.
 When the micro-organisms in the rumen die they provide protein in form
of microbial protein
 Microbial protein passes into the abomasum and intestines where it is
digested. 80% of the microbial protein arriving the intestines is in form
of

4. Protein degradation, digestion and
utilization
 The extent to which a protein is degraded in the rumen varies with the
protein source and the length of time it stays in the rumen.
 The protein that is degraded is refereed to as rumen degradable protein
(RDP)
 The protein that passes from the rumen undegraded is known as
undegradable dietary protein (UDP)
 At least 80% of the protein in most basal feeds e.g roughages (hays, straws)
and cereal grains is readily degraded to ammonia by rumen microorganisms
 Protein supplements are less degraded e.g fishmeal is poorly degradable,
then heat-treated soyabean and groundnut is an example of highly
degradable of the supplements. URP have an chance to be digested in the
intestines into amino acids.

5. Degradability of main feeds
Type Feed DM
(%)
ME
(MJ/kg)
CP
(%)
Degradability
(%)
Grains Oats
Barley
Maize
Wheat
86
86
86
86
12.6
13.0
13.5
13.9
10.5
12.0
9.8
12.5
85-95
85-95
60-70
70-80
High protein
supplements
Soya bean
Fish meal
90
90
12.3
11.1
50.3
70.1
45-65
25-45
Hay Leafy grass
Barley straw
85
86
10.1
7.3
13.2
3.8
70-80
80
Molasses 75 12.8 44.0 100

6. Please refer to hand–outs given for energy and protein amounts for
different ewe live weights, maintenance and for changing body
condition scores:
 Figure 1:
Daily energy and protein allowances for ewes before mating
 Figure 2:
Daily energy and protein allowances in early and mid-pregnancy
 Figure 3:
Daily energy and protein allowances in late pregnancy for single lambs
 Figure 4:
Daily energy and protein allowances in late pregnancy for twins
 Figure 5:
Daily energy and protein allowances for lactating ewes

7. Nutritional disorders
Hypomagnesaemia
 First 4-6 weeks of lactation at the
peak of milk production
Hypocalcaemia
 Lambing sickness
 Uncoordinated movements
Muscular dystrophy
 White muscle disease
 Deficiency in Vitamin E/seleniun
 Stiffness in young, rapidly growing
lambs around 3-4 weeks.