RT Journal
T1 Effect of rumen protected methionine and inorganic sulfur supplementation on production and quality traits of wool in Lohi sheep
A1 Sadaqat Ali Chattha
A1 Muhammad Qamar Shahid
A1 Abdur Rahman Ansari
A1 Zeeshan Muhammad Iqbal
A1 Muhammad Zahid Farooq
A1 Iahtasham Khan
JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
JO JAPS
SN 1018-7081
VO 36
IS 5
YR 2026
FD 2026
DO DOI https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.5.0115
AB <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Since wool contains high-sulfur protein, the rumen needs enough inorganic sulfur to synthesize sulfur-containing amino acids (SAA) such as cysteine and methionine. Therefore, current investigation aimed to determine the effects of inorganic sulfur</span><span style="color: black;"> (as sodium sulfate, Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) and rumen-protected methionine (RPM) on production and quality of wool</span><span style="color: black;">. Five different diets were given to s</span><span style="color: black;">ixty lactating ewes of Lohi breed </span><span style="color: black;">under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD),</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">where blocking was done by age </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">i.e.</span></em><span style="color: black;"> younger (</span><span style="color: black;">30 &plusmn; 5 months) and older (60 &plusmn; 5 months) having 30 animals in each block. The ewes were divided into five groups of 12 animals each, consisting of 6 ewes each from younger and older age cohorts. Five diets included C (control; no supplementation of</span><span style="color: black;"> Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span><span style="color: black;"> or RPM), S1 (</span><span style="color: black;">Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub></span><span style="color: black;"> @ 0.18 % of dry matter), S2 (20 % additional </span><span style="color: black;">Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4 </sub>than that of S1), </span><span style="color: black;">M1 (RPM @ 2 gm /head /day), M2 (20 % additional RPM than that of M1). <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ad libitum</em> grazing was allowed to all ewes on grazing field containing Jantar (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sesbania sesban</em>) and local grasses along with 250 gm concentrate /head /day during six-month trial period. </span><span style="color: black;">The study found that supplementation type, rate, and age of ewe significantly influenced plasma methionine concentration, staple length, fiber diameter, and clean wool yield. </span><span style="color: black;">The highest plasma methionine concentration was observed in supplement group M2 (</span><span style="color: black;">4.44 &plusmn; 0.04 &micro;mol/dl</span><span style="color: black;">) while the lowest plasma methionine concentration was observed in control group C (</span><span style="color: black;">4.05 &plusmn; 0.04 &micro;mol/dl</span><span style="color: black;">).</span><span style="color: black;"> Rumen-protected methionine (RPM) supplementation had a more pronounced effect on these factors compared to Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> supplementation. Furthermore, the </span><span style="color: black;">age</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">‑</span><span style="color: black;">dependent responses were observed, wherein younger ewes showed greater responsiveness to both RPM and Na</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">₂</span><span style="color: black;">SO</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">₄</span><span style="color: black;"> supplementation compared to older ewes.</span></span></p>
K1 wool, rumen-protected methionine, inorganic sulfur, quality traits, Lohi sheep
PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum
LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2025-JAPS-744