Effect of Formaldehyde Treated Barley in Awassi Ewes Rations in Milk Production and some Chemical and Microbial Traits of Yogurt

This study was conducted in research department of animal resource/ Al-Rashidiya, at ministry of agriculture by using 14 of genetically improved awassi ewes, average body weight 56.00 2.10 kg and age ranged between 3-5 years. Ewes were allocated according to their weight and milk production into two groups. The first was control (T1), fed on ration consist mainly of untreated barley and contain 9.69% of degradable protein and 3.77% of undegradable protein as dry matter. The second group (T2) was fed on same control ration but barley grain were treated with formaldehyde and contain 9.63% degradable protein and 6.37% of undegradable protein as dry matter, the two rations are nearest in its content of metabolizable energy. Results are indicated to a significant increase ( p > 0.05 ) in milk production in T2 which were 1.322 kg/day as compared to T1 which were 1.128 kg/day, milk components did not differ significantly between the two groups, but the quantity of lactose, fat and protein increased significantly ( p > 0.05 ) in T2 as compared to T1. No significant differences were noted in yogurt composition, but the total number of bacteria and colonic bacteria decreased in T2 ( 52.10 x 103and 4.16 x 101) compared to T1 ( 55.66 x 103 and 5.33 x 101) respectively.