Global Veterinaria 11 (2): 168-176, 2013 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.11.2.74152 Corresponding Author: Mahboub H.D.H., Department of Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat branch, Menoufia University, Sadat city, Egypt. 168 Effect of Maternal Feeding in Late Pregnancy on Behaviour and Performance of Egyptian Goat and Sheep and Their Offspring Hamada D.H. Mahboub, Sameh G. A. Ramadan, Mohamed A.Y. Helal and Enas A.K. Aziz Department of Husbandry and of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Menoufia University, Sadat Branch, Egypt Abstract: This study was conducted on 40 pregnant Egyptian Baladi does and ewes, with the aim of investigating the effect of maternal plan of nutrition at late pregnancy on maternal and neonatal behaviour and productive performance of both dams and offspring. At the last six weeks of gestation, animals were randomly assigned to two nutritional planes for each species (10 does or ewes/group). The control and treated groups were fed with total mixed rations supplying 100% and 135% of the NRC requirements respectively. These groups were the same for both species. Grooming and sucking behaviours, dam's body weight, rectal temperature of offspring, birth weight and body weight at 8 weeks of age were recorded. Blood samples were taken for serum chemical analysis. The results revealed that well feeding (sheep and goats) during last stage of pregnancy significantly improved dam's body weight (P<0.05), kid's rectal temperature (P<0.01), lamb's birth weight (P<0.05) and weaning weight of both kids and lambs ( P <0.05). Additionally, dams fed high level of concentrates spent more time grooming their offspring and were more cooperative with the suckling behaviour of their offspring (P<0.05). Lambs born to well fed ewes had higher serum total protein (P<0.01) and globulin (P<0.05) than those born to control ones. It was concluded that increasing concentrate mixture during late pregnancy improves birth weight; immunity and reduces the incidence of hypothermia. Key words: Concentrate Does Ewes Behaviour Performance INTRODUCTION fetal life affects fetal ovarian development [10], postnatal The survival of small ruminant's newborn in the first metabolism [13]. Consequently, suboptimal nutrition can hours following birth is influenced by many factors negatively affect birth weight [14-17] and early postnatal including dam nutrition during pregnancy [1, 2], process growth [18, 19]. Also it retard the growth of mammary of birth [3], maternal behaviour [4], neonatal behavior [5] secretary tissue mass [20, 21] that will affect on lactation and the physical environment at which parturition occur period leading to reduced colostrum and/or milk [6]. The proper development of fetuses and newborn availability for the offspring and affecting growth and (lambs and kids) requires an adequate transport of lamb survival to weaning [17, 22- 24]. On contrary, lambs nutrients across the placenta and mammary gland. born from high feed allowance ewes had higher rectal Approximately two-third of the birth weight of a temperatures at birth than lambs born from low fed ewes developing fetus is gained during the last six weeks of [25]. When multiple bearing ewes were offered additional gestation. Therefore, balanced nutrition during late feed in late pregnancy, lamb mortality was reduced for gestation is crucial for fetal development and survival at single and twin lambs [26]. birth [7]. The challenge in feeding pregnant ewes is to In small ruminants, survival and welfare of newborn provide adequate energy and protein to support depend on the rapid development of a reciprocal embryonic and fetal growth, maintenance of metabolic mother–young bond [27]. Maternal under nutrition may processes, mammary gland growth, colostrum and milk also impair lamb survival by affecting the appropriate yield [8, 9]. Moreover, nutritional supplementation during expression of maternal and neonate behaviors at birth growth [11], reproductive performance [12] and