Effect of non-structural carbohydrate dietary content on the productive performance of Sarda primiparous ewes

In order to enhance our knowledge of milk sheep rationing, 30 Sarda primiparous ewes, for which single birth was diagnosed by ultrasonography prior to lambing, were divided into two homogeneous groups (L-NSC and H-NSC) and fed isoproteic diets containing different amounts of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC, 36 vs 40 % DM). The lambs were weighed both at birth (between February and March 2002) and at sale (about one month later) in order to estimate milk produced by their mothers during the lactation period, by using a specific equation developed on Sarda ewes. Individual milk yield and quality were then monitored monthly until the ewes dried off (July 2002). Our results showed that group H-NSC (which received the diet with the highest NSC content) was associated to the highest milk yield (P