Productive Performance of Ossimi Ewes Post-Lambing as Affected by Selenium Yeast and/or Vitamin E Supplemented Rations Under Two Different Housing Types

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of selenium yeast (SeY) and/or vitamin E (VitE) supplemented diets which is a commercial antioxidants containing SeY and VitE on productive performance and some blood biochemical parameters of Ossimi ewes and their offspring under two different housing types. Eighty Ossimi ewes in late pregnant period were divided into two equal groups (40 ewes each), the first group averaged 40.38±0.93kg body weight and was settled in semi-opened house with concrete floor and roofed with west-east direction (1st H). While the second group averaged 39.49±1.12kg body weight and was settled in fully shaded house, roofed by single asbestos sheetin and topped with rice straw bales and natural earthen ground with north-south direction (2nd H). Each group randomly divided into four equal subgroups; G1: fed 40% rice straw + 60% concentrate feed mixture (control). G2: fed control + 0.3 mg SeY /kg diet. G3: fed control + 40 mg VitE /kg diet. G4 fed control + 0.3 mg SeY and 40 mg VitE /kg diet. Results indicated that ewes body weight was higher (P 0.05) differences for all blood constituents' values among groups in the 1st house. While, concentrations of serum total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose and cholesterol were significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01) higher in the treated groups (G2, G3 and G4) than those in G1 in 2nd house type. Concerning serum AST and ALT values obtained here in were within the normal range for healthy sheep. It was concluded that dietary supplementation with SeY plus VitE could be used for the improvement in productive performance of pregnant and lactating ewes post-lambing without any side effects on the general health. Also, sustenance in the second house type had useful impacts on improving growth rate, feed conversion rate, milk production and some related serum biochemical indicators.