Abstract
Micronutrient supplementation during late gestation can enhance the metabolic profile and physiological wellbeing of ewes and their lambs. This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of Spirulina platensis (SP) and vitamin A supplementation during late gestation on the pregnant ewes’ health and their newly born lambs’ viability and performance. One month before lambing, thirty six pregnant ewes (47.4±0.52 kg BW) were randomly assigned into three experimental groups (n=6 with 2 replicates for each treatment) and received one of three treatments: intramuscular injection of 1 mL saline per ewe twice a week (control); 1 g/10 kg BW of ewes /day of Spirulina platensis powder (SP) was added to the concentrate mixture; and intramuscular injection of 1 mL vitamin A (50,000 IU) per ewe twice a week. Results revealed that significantly (P< 0.05) decreased in the ewes’ serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and increased the serum creatinine level of control group after lambing. However, supplementation with SP and vitamin A normalized serum ALT activity and creatinine level after lambing. Also, SP enhanced serum levels of glucose, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol after lambing. In addition, supplementation of late pregnant ewes with SPincreased total leucocytes count and serum vitamin A concentration of their newly born lambs. Furthermore, SP and vitamin A supplementation to the pregnant ewes increased newly born lambs’ birth weights and body temperatures, while they decreased the stillbirth by 56% (11.1%) and 43% (14.3%), respectively compared to those of the control group (25%). Finally, SP and vitamin A ameliorated the lambing-induced stress in ewes and lambs represented by reducing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in both ewes and their lambs. Thus, supplementation of pregnant ewes with SP and vitamin A improved their health at lambing and enhanced their lambs’ survivability and performance.
Highlights
The transition from gestation into lactation in various domestic animals is associated with major metabolic and endocrine changes that may negatively, if not managed properly, when affect the fetal metabolism as well as the growth of the offspring postnatally (Bell, 1995; Wu et al, 2006)
Vitamin A injection of 400 IU of PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum received a little attention in late pregnant ewes’ Gonadotropin, Folliogon, Intervet, Egypt) per ewe nutrition based on the presumption that vitamin A after sponge removal
Two weeks prior to the expected lambing date, the ewes higher growth performance than those born to control were moved to large straw-bedded lambing pens. ewes (Shimkiene et al, 2010). With their inherent antioxidant and immunostimulatory properties, we hypothesize that either vitamin A or Spirulina platensis (SP) may enhance the health and metabolic status of Egyptian sheep, Samples collection and analyses Blood samples were collected from ewes at 2 weeks before lambing and from both ewes and their lambs frequently subjected to nutritional stress being mainly within 2 h post-lambing, A 3.5-mL blood sample from fed on grazing pasture of fluctuated nutritive value, each animal was taken from the Jugular vein
Summary
The transition from gestation into lactation in various domestic animals is associated with major metabolic and endocrine changes that may negatively, if not managed properly, when affect the fetal metabolism as well as the growth of the offspring postnatally (Bell, 1995; Wu et al, 2006). Ewes (Shimkiene et al, 2010) With their inherent antioxidant and immunostimulatory properties, we hypothesize that either vitamin A or SP may enhance the health and metabolic status of Egyptian sheep, Samples collection and analyses Blood samples were collected from ewes at 2 weeks before lambing and from both ewes and their lambs frequently subjected to nutritional stress being mainly within 2 h post-lambing, A 3.5-mL blood sample from fed on grazing pasture of fluctuated nutritive value, each animal was taken from the Jugular vein.
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