Increase weaned lamb crop using vitamin E in the flushing diet of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes | ||
| پژوهش های علوم دامی (دانش کشاورزی) | ||
| Volume 30, Issue 4, March 2021, Pages 15-25 PDF (963.5 K) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.22034/as.2021.32129.1486 | ||
| Author | ||
| MOHSEN BAGHERI* | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: A large volume of literature describes the biological roles of vitamin E and its application to preventing disease and improving health and productive performances of farm animals. It is widely documented that vitamin E play an important role in the reproductive performance. The vitamin E requirement may be defined as the amount required preventing peroxidation in the particular subcellular membrane which is most susceptible to peroxidation (Koyunku and Yerlikaya 2007). Little is known about the effects of vitamin E supplementation on specific reproductive events in sheep. Most nutritionists assume that reproductive performance will not be limited when domestic animals are fed diets that meet the NRC levels. However, little is known about the effects of vitamin E supplementation on specific reproductive events in sheep and goats. Because fertilization in this animals is an all or none phenomenon (i.e., either all ovulated eggs are fertilized or none of them are fertilized), the three major variables that contribute to litter size are ovulation rates, embryonic survival and foetal survival rate (Koyunku and Yerlikaya 2007). The present experiment has been conducted in the two flocks with a history of relatively moderate fertility (90 %). The objective was to examine the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the number of lambs weaned and total lamb weaned weight. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted using 200 Lori Bakhtiarii ewes (100 ewes per flock), with an average live body weight 57.5±6.7 kg and between two to seven years of age. The ewes in each flock were randomly divided into two groups, consisting of 50 ewes per group. Each group of ewes assigned to consume one of the two diets. Diets contained basal diet plus 250 gram per ewe barley grains (control) or basal diet plus 250 gram per ewe barley grains plus 500 IU vitamin E. The basal diet was based on local feeds; pasture herbage and the salt stone as free. The experiment started with the natural mating period in late summer. The feeding regimens started from 2 weeks before lasted to 3 weeks after ram introduction. The ewes from all groups were kept in the same shed and consisted as one flock while grazing. Ewes were placed in individual pens once daily to receive supplemental treatments. Ewes remained in individual pens until all trial supplements had been consumed. Ewes in each flock were mated to 10 fertile Lori Bakhtiari rams during the breeding seasons of 34 days in late summer and early autumn. Weight and body condition score of ewes at mating were measured. Body condition scoring (BCS=1 for emaciated ewes to BCS=5 for obese ewes at 0.5 interval) has been described by Russel et al. (1969). The body condition score of the ewes in this method based on touching of the tips of both the spinous and the transverse processes of the vertebrae, and the fullness of fat and muscle cover over and around the vertebrae in the loin region. The animals were general kept indoors from December to May and lambed indoors. Date of lambing, the number of lambs born, lambs birth weight, survival rate of lambs from birth to weaning and lambs weaning weight were measured. Some combination traits as total lamb birth weight and total lamb weaning weight per exposed ewe were calculated. Data were analyzed using General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of SAS. Results: There were no significance difference among the flocks and treatments on the ewe's body weight and body condition score of ewes at mating. Difference between control and vitamin E treatments with respect to the number of lambs born per ewe exposed to the rams was tended to be significant (p=0.06). The number of lambs born per ewe exposed to the rams was not affected by flock, and body condition score of ewes at mating. Yearling ewes produced fewer lambs than older ewes but differences were not statistically significant. Mean of birth weight of lambs were not statistically differing between flocks, treatments, ewes body condition scores and ewes parity. Total birth weight of lambs per ewe exposed to the rams and per ewe lambing was differ between treatments (p < 0.01) and was higher in vitamin E treatment. Total birth weight of lambs per ewe exposed to the rams was not affected by flock or ewe parity but, total birth weight of lambs per ewe lambing was differing between flocks (p < 0.01). Effects of body condition score on the total birth weight of lambs per ewe exposed to the rams and per ewe lambing were statistically significance (p < 0.05). The number of weaned lambs (p < 0.01), total lambs weaned weight per ewe exposed to the rams (p < 0.01) and total lambs weaned weight per ewe lambing (p < 0.05) were higher in vitamin E treatment than control group. There were not significance difference among different flocks and different ewe parity on the number of lamb's weaned and total lambs weaning weight per ewe exposed to the rams and per ewe lambing. Body condition scores was influenced the number of lambs weaned and total lambs weaning weight per ewe exposed to the rams (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Data obtained in this study indicated that in the Lori Bakhtiatri sheep, using supplemental vitamin E in the diet of ewes given before mating, significantly increased the number of weaned lambs and total weight of weaning lambs per ewe exposed to the rams. These findings should be useful in further exploring the frequency and amount of vitamin E supplementation that may improve reproductive performance of ewes. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Ewe; Flushing; Performance; Vitamin E | ||
| References | ||
|
Bagheri M, 2014. Economic analysis of ewe rearing in nomads of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Animal and Poultry Researches 3: 75-85.
Bagheri M, Talebi MA and Sadeghipanah A, 2016. Evaluation the effects of supplemental fat in Lori-Bakhtiari ewes flushing diet on their lambs' weaning weight. Journal of Animal Science Researches 26: 1-14.
Bagheri M, Talebi MA and Sadeghipanah A, 2018. Effect of different flushing treatments on reproductive performance of Lori-Bakhtiari ewe-lamb and mature ewe. Animal Science Journal (Pajouhesh and Sazandegi) 118: 3-14.
Buchanan-Smith JG, Nelson EC, Osburn BI, Wells ME and Tillman AD, 1969. Effects of vitamin E and selenium deficiencies in sheep fed a purified diet during growth and reproduction. Journal of Animal Science 29: 808-815.
Cline JH, Mahan DC and Moxon AL, 1974. Progeny effects of supplemental vitamin E in sow diets. Journal of Animal Science 39 (Abstract).
Daghigh Kia H, Aslani Kordkandi Gh, Moghaddam Gh, Alijani S and Hosseinkhani A, 2012. The effect of flaxseed and soybean on the diet of flushing of reproductive performance of Moghani sheep out of the breeding season. Journal of Animal Science Researches 22: 173-184.
Daniels JT, Hatfield PG, Burgess DE and Kott RW, 1999. Evaluation of ewe and lamb immune response when ewes are supplemented with vitamin E. Western Section - American Society of Animal Science 50:285-288.
Demiroren E, Shrestha JNB and Boylan WJ, 1995. Breed and environmental effects on components of ewe productivity in terms of multiple births, artificial rearing and 8-month breeding cycles. Small Ruminant Research 16: 239-249.
El-Shahat KH and Abdel Monem UM, 2011. Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Vitamin E and /or Selenium on Metabolic and Reproductive Performance of Egyptian Baladi Ewes under Subtropical Conditions. World Applied Science Journal 12: 1492-1499.
Esmaeili-Zadeh Kashkoieh A, Miraei-Ashtiani SR, Akbari Gharaie M, 2004. Effects of ewe live weight and body condition at mating on fertility and lambing season of Kurdi sheep in extensive production system. Pajouhesh & Sazandegi 61: 8-16.
Gabryszuk M and Klewiec J, 2002. Effect of injecting 2 and 3-year-old ewes with selenium and selenium-vitamin E on reproduction and rearing of lambs. Small Ruminant Research 43: 127-132.
Gentry PC, Ross TT, Oetting BC and Birch KD, 1992. Effects of supplemental d-α-tocopherol on preweaning lamb performance, serum and colostrum tocopherol levels and immunoglobulin G titers. Sheep Research Journal 8: 95-100.
Godwin KO, Kuchel RE and Buckley RA, 1970. The effect of selenium on infertility in ewes grazing improved pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 10: 672-678.
Hartley WJ and Grant AB, 1961. A review of selenium responsive diseases of New Zealand livestock. Federation Proceeding 20: 679- 688.
Hartley WJ, 1961. Selenium Treatment of Animal Disease and Unthriftiness. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture 103: 475.
Kott RW, Thomas VM, Hatfield PG, Evans T and Davis KC, 1998. Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation during late pregnancy on lamb mortality and ewe productivity. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 212: 997-1000.Koyuncu M and Yerlikaya H, 2007. Effect of selenium-vitamin E injections of ewes on reproduction and growth of their lambs. South African Journal of Animal Science 37: 233-236.
Koyuncu M, Kara Uzun S, Ozis S and Yerlikaya H, 2006. Effects of selenium-vitamin E or progestagen-PMSG injections on reproductive performance of ewes. Journal of Applied Animal Research 29: 137-140.
Lui S, Masters D, Ferguson M and Thompson A, 2014. Vitamin E status and reproduction in sheep: potential implications for Australian sheep production. Animal Production Science 54: 694-714.
Mahan DC, 1991. Assessment of the influence of dietary vitamin E on sows and offspring in three parities: reproductive performance, tissue tocopherol, and effects on progeny. Journal of Animal Science 69: 2904-2917.
Mavromatis J, Koptopoulos G, Kyriakis SC, Papasteriadis A and Saoulidis K, 1999. Effects of α-tocopherol and selenium on pregnant sows and their piglets’ immunity and performance. Journal of Veterinary Medicine 46: 543-553.
Meydani SN and Tengerdy R, 1993. Vitamin E and immune response. In: Packer, L., Fuch, J. (Eds), Vitamin E on Health and Disease, Marcel Decker, New York 549-561.
Migdal W and Kaczmarczyk J, 1993. Effect to injection of selenium and vitamin E on reproductive performance of sows and Se concentration in sow milk. World Review of Animal Production 28: 68-71.
Mudd AJ and Mackie IL, 1973. The influence of vitamin E and selenium on ewe prolificacy. Veterinary Record 93: 197-199.
Russel AJ, Doney FGM and Gunn RG, 1969. Subjective assessment of fat in live sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science 72: 451-454.
SAS, 2000. Release 8.2, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
Scales GH, 1974. Reproductive performance of Merino ewes dosed with selenium prior mating. Proceeding of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 34: 103-113.
Segerson EC, Gunsett FC and Getz WR, 1986. Selenium-vitamin E supplementation and production efficiency in ewes marginally deficient in selenium. Livestock Production Science 14: 149-159.
Talebi MA, 2002. Growth performance in Lori-Bakhtiari lambs. 1. Estimation of non-genetic parameters. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Montpellier, France, pp. 0-3.
Vatankhah M, Talebi MA and Zamani F, 2012. Relationship between ewe body condition score (BCS) at mating and reproductive and productive traits in Lori-Bakhtiari sheep. Small Ruminant Research 106: 105– 109.
Williamson JK, Taylor AN, Riley ML and Sanson DW, 1995. The effect of vitamin E on lamb vigor. Proceeding Western Section of American Society of Animal Science 46: 77-79. | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 1,258 PDF Download: 700 |
||