Abstract. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concentrate-based
feeding (CF) and artificial pasture-based grazing (APG) management systems
on milk yield, fatty acids, nutritional indices, and milk physicochemical
characteristics of Awassi ewes. The research involved 300 heads of Awassi
ewes, which were divided into two groups. Awassi sheep were managed in a CF
and APG system to test the milk yield characteristics. The results showed a
significant (P<0.01) difference in milk yield and lactation length
between CF and APG management systems of ewes. The average daily milk yield
showed a nonsignificant difference for both management systems, and no significant changes (P>0.05) in the chemical composition of CF and APG management systems were observed. Palmitic (C16:0), myristic
(C14:0), stearic (C18:0) capric (C10:0), and lauric (C12:0) acids were the major saturated fatty acids found in milk from both management systems. The
level of linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) was significantly different in both
treatments (P<0.05), but the linolenic (C18:3 n-3) acid level was
nonsignificant in milk from the CF and APG management systems. The hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic (h / H) fatty acid and thrombogenicity (TI) ratios were significantly different (P<0.05); however, the atherogenicity (AI) had no significant difference between
confined and grazing systems. In conclusion, it can be said that the
lactation length and lactation milk yield were prolonged by the APG
management system, though the milk composition and quality were not significantly affected.
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