Abstract— An experiment was conducted using three complete rations containing either 31.2, 45.0, or 58.6 °l° chopped wheat straw. Sixty Awassi ewes were divided into three experimental groups arranged in a randomized block design. Individual feed intake, milk yield from lambing to weaning of the lambs, and body weight of ewes and lambs were measured. The reduction in barley grain proportions with elevated levels of straw resulted in a reduction of the calculated metabolizable energy (ME) from 10.5 to 9.6 to 8.5 MJ.kg!1 in rations 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The crude protein (CP) contents were 14.2, 14.4 and 15.1 % DM for these rations, respectively. The voluntary feed intake decreased significantly and was lowest (P < 0.05) for group 3 until the seventh week, but leveled off thereafter until the end of the experiment at 13 weeks of lactation. Average body weights were 61.2, 60.1, and 51.6 kg at the end of eight weeks of the experiment for treatments I, 2, and 3, respectively. The body weights in the third group were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the other groups during the first 8 weeks post-partum. The decreased body weight of the third group was then maintained throughout the experimental period. Thus, the average body weights were 66.2, 66.9, and 56.4 kg for rations I , 2, and 3, respectively, at the end of the experimental period. Total milk yields were not significantly different among the three groups, being 34.5, 37.9, and 39.0
