Table 1. Ingredient and chemical composition of diets (% of DM) fed to Baluchi ewes during the transition period

	Post-lambing						Pre-lambing
	No flaxseed		10% whole flaxseed		10% extruded flaxseed		No flaxseed		10% whole flaxseed		10% extruded flaxseed
	20% RUP1)	40% RUP	20% RUP	40% RUP	20% RUP	40% RUP	20% RUP	40% RUP	20% RUP	40% RUP	20% RUP	40% RUP
	(NFLR)	(NFHR)	(WFLR)	(WFHR)	(EFLR)	(EFHR)	(NELR)	(NFHR)	(WFLR)	(WFHR)	(EFLR)	(EFHR)
Ingredients (%DM)
Alfalfa hay (chopped)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	10	10	10	10	10
Corn silage	73.4	73.4	73.4	73.4	73.4	73.4	40	40	40	40	40	40
Barley grain (grounded)	15.1	15.1	5.1	5.1	5.1	5.1	27.5	27.5	7.5	17.5	7.5	17.5
Soybean meal	5.4	3	2.3	-	2.3	-	-	8	-	4.5	-	4.5
Beet pulp	-	-	7.7	2.3	7.7	2.3	-	-	29.5	3.5	29.5	3.5
Wheat bran	4.6	-	-	-	-	-	19.5	5	-	5	-	5
Whole flaxseed	-	-	10	10	-	-	-	-	10	10	-	-
Extruded flaxseed	-	-	-	-	10	10	-	-	-	-	10	10
Urea	0.7	-	0.7	-	0.7	-	2	-	2	-	2	-
Yasminomax2)	-	7.7	-	8.4	-	8.4	-	8.5	-	8.5	-	8.5
Calcium carbonate	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Minerals-vitamins3)	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Chemical composition (% in DM)
DM	31	31	31	31	31	31	45	45	45	45	45	45
ME (Mcal/kg DM)	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.3	2.3	2.4	2.5	2.4	2.5
CP	12.2	12	12.1	12.2	12.1	12.2	15.6	15.6	15.8	15.6	15.8	15.6
NDF	44.1	43.7	44.4	44.7	44.4	44.7	40.3	37.0	39.5	37.8	39.5	37.8
EE	2.9	2.8	6	6.1	6	6.1	3	2.6	5.5	6	5.5	6
RUP (% of CP)	21.5	37.5	20.8	37.4	20.8	37.4	21.5	38.5	22	38	22	38
RDP (% of CP)	78.5	62.5	79.2	62.6	79.2	62.6	78.5	61.5	78	62	78	62
Ca	0.57	0.58	0.68	0.63	0.68	0.63	0.58	0.6	0.9	0.68	0.9	0.68
P	0.38	0.36	0.36	0.4	0.36	0.4	0.51	0.4	0.4	0.46	0.4	0.46

Rumen undegradable protein.
Yasminomax contained 46% CP, 70% RUP, 7% ash, 4% fat (DM basis).
Mineral and vitamin mix contained 200 g/kg Ca, 98 g/kg P, 21 g/kg Mg, 44 g/kg Na, 0.3 g/kg Cu, 2 g/kg Mn, 3 g/kg Fe, 3 g/kg Zn, 0.1 g/kg I, 0.1 g/kg Co, 0.001 g/kg Se, 500,000 IU/kg of vitamin A, 100 mg/kg of vitamin E, 100,000 IU/kg of vitamin D₃, and 400 mg/kg Antioxidant.
DM, dry matter; RUP, rumen undegradable protein; NFLR, no flaxseed, low RUP; NFHR, no flaxseed, high RUP; WFLR, whole flaxseed, low RUP; WFHR, whole flaxseed, high RU; EFLR, extruded flaxseed, low RUP; EFHR, extruded flaxseed, high RUP; ME, metabolizable energy; CP, crude protein; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; EE, ether extract; RDP, rumen degradable protein.