Wheat Distiller’s Grains as a Source of Protein in Dairy Sheep

DIMOVA, N., I. IVANOVA, M. MIHAILOVA, N. TODOROV and N. NAYDENOVA, 2009. Wheat distiller’s grains as a source of protein in dairy sheep. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 15: 574-582 The aim of the experiment was to test a simple and cheap system of ewe feeding with forages supplemented with dry distiller’s grain with soluble (DDGS), as a source of protein and whole grains, as the source of energy, compared with traditional diet of forage plus compound feed. One flock of 202 dairy ewes was divided into two groups, equal in age, live weight, and body condition score (BCS), milk yield, and fertility in previous years of adult sheep. First group of 101ewes were fed for 195 days, from December 12, 2007 to June 24, 2008, with forages plus compound feed with sunflower meal as protein source. Second group received the same forages plus DDGS and grain. The two diets were approximately equal in energy and crude protein. Lambing was from 4 of January to 13 of February, 2008. Both group grazed together limited pasture during months May and June and were divided for additional feeding according to the experimental scheme. No significant differences was found in average milk yield (81 vs. 82 kg per ewe, respectively for first and second group), milk composition, wool yield, fertility of lambed ewes (1.42 vs. 1.45) and flock fertility (1.11 vs. 1.10), gain of lambs until weaning and technological characteristics of milk. In conclusion, DDGS plus whole grain is replacing successfully compound feed with sunflower meal in diet of dairy ewes.