The effect of feeding Zandi pregnant ewes during mid to late pregnancy on the performance and behavior of ewes and lambs during 24 hours after birth

The present experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of feeding ewes with two different feeding levels during mid- and late pregnancy on the performance and behavior of ewes and lambs during 24 hours after birth.In order to test 112 ewes of Zandi singleton breed that were pregnant, they were randomly divided into 4 feeding levels in mid and late pregnancy in 4 treatments and 4 replications (7 repetitions per head).Experimental treatments include: 1- Feeding with 4 cm forage in mid-pregnancy and feeding with 4 cm forage in late pregnancy (4-4), 2- Feeding with 4 cm forage in mid-pregnancy and feeding with 2 cm forage in Late pregnancy (4-2), 3- Forage feeding 2 cm in mid-pregnancy and forage feeding 4 cm in late pregnancy (2-4), 4- Forage feeding 2 cm in mid-pregnancy and forage feeding Were 2 cm in late pregnancy (2-2).According to the results, the weight of ewes and the birth weight of their lambs that used 4 cm forage in mid and late pregnancy had a significant increase compared to other groups (p < 0.05).Lambs born from 4-4 group ewes moved less towards their mother to communicate (p < 0.05).In general, the results of the present experiment showed that feeding ewes in late gestation with four cm of forage could have better performance on ewes and lambs born.