The effects of pelleting a total mixed ration (TMR) for dairy sheep were investigated in an experiment involving 24 lactating Assaf ewes, which were assigned to two groups and fed the same TMR ad libitum, offered either in pelleted (PTMR group, n = 12) or in unpelleted form (CTMR group, n = 12). The experiment lasted 28 days, during which feed intake, eating behavior (including meal frequency and size, meal duration, eating rate, between-meal interval), and milk yield were recorded daily. Body weight (BW) was recorded on days 1 and 28 and milk samples were collected on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 28 for milk composition analysis. Blood acid-base status was determined at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Ewes fed the CTMR diet exhibited (p < 0.05) a higher meal frequency and longer meal duration, along with a smaller meal size and slower eating rate. However, feed intake in this group was less than that in ewes fed PTMR only during the final two weeks of the experimental period. Total eating time was also longer (p < 0.001) in the CTMR group, whereas the average time between meals was shorter (p < 0.002). No differences (p > 0.05) were observed between dietary treatments in blood acid-base status, milk yield or milk composition. However, a diet x day interaction (p < 0.05) was detected for milk yield, as during the last 2 weeks of the experimental period the ewes fed the PTMR yielded more milk than those fed the CTMR. Feed conversion ratio did not differ between groups (p > 0.05), but body weight loss was greater in ewes fed the CTMR diet (−3.00 vs. −0.58 kg; p < 0.05). A trend toward improved feed efficiency was observed in the PTMR group when calculated based on milk yield corrected for that theoretically derived from the mobilization of body reserves (1.98 vs. 1.41 g DMI/kg milk; p = 0.077), with estimated contributions from body reserves of 485 g/day in the CTMR group and 70 g/day in the PTMR group. In conclusion, the use of pelleted total mixed rations in high-yielding dairy ewes enhances feed intake, feed efficiency, milk yield, and energy balance without adversely affecting milk composition or animal health in the short term.

Adequate management of replacement ewe lambs (F0) in dairy sheep farms during postnatal life may modify the germline cells, thus promoting transmission of intergenerational effects to the offspring (F1). To test this hypothesis, 18 newborn male lambs (F1), either born from methionine-supplemented ewe lambs (F0 ewe lambs being fed ad libitum with a milk replacer supplemented with 1 g methionine/kg DM) or not supplemented (F0 ewe lambs being fed ad libitum with the same milk replacer with no methionine added), were included in the present study. All the male F1 lambs were managed exactly in the same way along the whole lifespan in order to bring out the differences caused by methionine supplementation of F0 dams. Our data show that the methionine supplementation of dams (F0) during the suckling period did not promote significant (p > 0.05) changes on feed intake, growth rate, or feed efficiency of F1 male lambs during the fattening period. Moreover, the meat chemical composition (proximal, fatty acid profile, and volatile compounds) was similar for both groups (p > 0.05), but the meat of F1-MET lambs presented higher redness and hardness (p < 0.05) when compared to F1-CTRL lambs. The biochemical profile also highlighted significant (p < 0.05) differences in the serum creatinine and calcium content that may be at least partially related to the meat quality traits observed. Overall, all these results suggest that methionine supplementation of lambs (F0) during early postnatal life causes permanent changes in the offspring. This has positive effects, such as achieving a more attractive color of lamb meat (F1) for consumers, and negative effects, such as reduced meat tenderness.