Rearing, fattening performance and slaughter indicators of lambs after selenium, zinc and vitamin E supplementation

M Gabryszuk,J Klewiec,K Horbańczuk

doi:10.5194/aab-52-309-2009

Abstract

Abstract. The experiment was conducted on 80 Polish Merino ewes, their 82 lambs and 40 fattening rams. Merino ewes were divided into two groups: experimental (E) and control (C), each composed of 40 animals. Four weeks before lambing, 1 day, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after lambing 40 ewes of the experimental (E) group received intramuscular injection of 5 ml 0.1 % Na2SeO4 (selenium [Se]: 2.09 mg), 10 ml 10 % ZnSO4 (Zinc [Zn]: 227 mg) and 250 mg vitamin E (α-tocopherol), and control group (C) – no received. From birth all the lambs were maintained with their dams and then weaned at the age of 8 weeks, placed in individual straw-bedded pens and fattened individually with a granulated concentrate mixture until reaching a body weight about 32 kg. During fattening 20 lambs from experimental group (E) was given per os 1 ml 0.1 % Na2SeO4, 3 ml 10 % ZnSO4 and 60 mg vitamin E (α-tocopherol) daily, and control group (C) – no administered. The levels of Se, Zn and vitamin E in the blood plasma of ewes and ram- lambs were within the reference values. The lambs born by the treated ewes (E) experienced much lower body live weight at birth (P≤0.05), body weight on day 28 and 56 (P≤0.01), compared to lambs born from group (C). Also the daily live weight gain from birth to 4 week and from birth to 8 week were significantly lower (P≤0.05) in lambs born by the treated ewes. Se, Zn and vitamin E treated rams contained less fat in leg (P≤0.05), less fat thickness over ribs (P≤0.01) and less fat thickness over loin-eye than non treated rams.

Highlights

It is widely documented that vitamins and minerals play an important role in the growth of animals and their physiological functions, as well as their reproductive performance (KOLODZIEJ and JACYNO 2005)
In the same age at start fattening (55.7 and 56.4 days) rams weaned from ewes treated Se, Zn and vitamin E were lower body weight initial fattening (P≤0.01) and lower (P≤0.05) body live weight gain from birth to start fattening than rams from control group (Table 6)
Some animal experiments have suggested that dietary Se may have some beneficial effects at levels above those generally accepted as adequate (MCDOWELL 1992)

Summary

Introduction

It is widely documented that vitamins and minerals play an important role in the growth of animals and their physiological functions, as well as their reproductive performance (KOLODZIEJ and JACYNO 2005). The metabolic function Se is closely linked to vitamin E as biological antioxidant in tissue protection, but each nutrient cannot always fully compensate for a deficiency of the other (UNDERWOOD and SUTTLE 1999, KRSKA et al 2001). Se and vitamin E prepartum injections result in higher colostrum and milk concentrations of these elements (CUESTA et al 1995). Se or Se plus vitamin E may be improved reproduction performance of ewes (SCALES 1974, GABRYSZUK 1994, ANTUNOVI et al 2004). Injection of Se and vitamin E together does not increased

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