Estimation of maintenance Energy requirments of zandi sheep breed in rangeland (Case study: Lar region)

For determination of maintenance energy requirements of animal, animal unit and forage quality should be considered. In this investigation, body weight and maintenance energy requirements of Zandi sheep breed were studied. Thus three flocks of zandi breed were selected in Lar region (Down Elarm) and 70 head of sheep were selected randomly from each flock (20 head were 3-yars old ewes, 20 head were 4-years old ewes, 5 head were 3-years old rams, 5 head were 4-years old rams, 10 head were 3-month old lambs and 10 head were 3-month lambs and 10 head of 6- month old lambs) and weighted at the begin and end of grazing season. Animal unit weight of this breed were determined by average weight of 3 and 4 old ewes (54.28 kg). So animal unit equivalent to rams and 3 and 6 month years old lams were 1.23, 0.68 and 0.86 respectively. Daily metaboliszable energy requirements in maintenance status (with adding 50% energy) determined for each animal unit with MAFF and NRC equation in three plot of pasture (10.83 and 11.95 respectively). Also palatable plants in germination and flowering stage were selected and amount of their CP, ADF, DMD and ME were determined.