Effects of flaxseed and soybean seeds on the performance of Maque ewes during transition period

The effect of flaxseed and soybean seed on the performance of Maque ewes during the transition period in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications and one ewe per replicate using 16 pregnant Maque ewes with average age of three years and weight (65 ± 2.4 kg) was investigated. Experimental treatments included: control diet (basal diet), diet containing 10% flaxseed; Contained 10% soybean seed and 50:50 dietary ratio of flaxseed and soybean seed. Experimental results showed no effect of treatments on feed intake of ewes before and after calving. Milk production of ewes fed flaxseed diets was higher (p<0.05) and ewes fed 50:50 diets containing flaxseed and soybean had the highest total serum protein concentration (p<0.05). Other serum metabolites were unaffected by experimental treatments. Rumen fluid valeric acid concentration was the highest in ewes fed diets containing soybean seed and soybean-flax seed mixture (p<0.05). Results of this experiment showed that using flaxseed and soybean seed up to 10% diet without adverse effect on feed intake improved ewes performance during the transition period and increased production in the early lactation period.