The present study was conducted at the Animal Farm/ College of Agriculture/
University of Basrah during the period from 2/12/2012 to 2/3/2013. The study
included 24 milking ewes aged around 2-4 years, having single lamb, closely lambing
date and weighted 42 kg. After giving the ewes preliminary period of 10 days, they
were distributed randomly and equally to six feeding groups. The first group was fed
60% concentrate and 40% roughages; soya bean meal was treated by formaldehyde.
The second group was fed 60% concentrate and 40% roughages with untreated soya
bean meal. The third group was fed 50% concentrate and 50% roughages with treated
soya bean meal. The fourth group was fed 50% concentrate and 50% roughages with
untreated soya bean meal. The fifth group was fed 40% concentrate and 60%
roughages with treated soya bean meal. The sixth group was fed 40% concentrate and
60% roughages with untreated soya bean meal (control). The ration was given as 4%
of live body weight. The concentrate consisted of 40% barley, 20% corn, 30% wheat
bran, 7% soya bean meal, 1% salt and 2% Calcium bicarbonate. Roughage was wheat
straw treated with 4% urea and 3kg/ton yeast. Treated soya bean meal reduced
degradable protein from 70% to 60%. There were no significant differences among
feeding groups in pH, total bacteria and cellolytic bacteria before feeding. However,
the differences reached significant level (P<0.05) after 3 hours of feeding. The third
group recorded highest pH value (6.82) and cellolytic bacteria (8.7x 106). The fifth
and sixth groups showed highe significant improvement in total number of bacteria
when compared with other groups (11.37x107 and 11.86x107).Propionic acid level
and the percentage of acetic: propionic were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by
different treatments, comperation with fivth and sixth treatment.