Effect of Drainage with Flax Oil on Weight and some Blood Characteristics During Late Pregnancy Stage of Awassi Ewes

Abstract

The goal of this research was to determine the effects of various doses of flaxseed oil on ewe body weight, growth characteristics, and selected biochemical and hormonal blood characteristics. This research was carried out in the animal science department at the University of Tikrit’s College of Agriculture between October 6th, 2022, and September 1st, 2022. There were a total of 17 female Awassi sheep, ages 1-2, with an average live weight of 56.41 kg, and they were randomly assigned to one of three groups. To the ewes, flaxseed oil was administered at a rate of 0%, 6%, and 8% of the dry matter weight in the three different groups. The ewes were grazing daily, in addition to providing a supplementary diet at the level of 2.5% of body weight, consisting of 14.98 protein and 14.22 MJ/kg dry matter as energy. At the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the treatments in ewes’ weights, the percentage of packed blood cells, the number of white blood cells and platelets, and the values of total protein, albumin, urea, and creatinine, while the control treatment was the least significant (P≤0.05). of the second and third treatments, which had the highest numbers of red blood cells (5.79, 6.61 and 7.72) 106cells/ml3 and hemoglobin (9.06, 9.80 and 10.20) mg/dl, respectively. While a significant decrease (P≤0.05) was, observe for the activity of AST, ALT and triglyceride enzymes for the third treatment compared to the control treatment. The third treatment was significantly superior (P≤0.05) in the value of blood globulin, glucose and cholesterol 1.90 g/dl, 66.66 and 84.00 mg/dl, respectively.