Abstract
The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are the most abundant fatty acids in the brain and are vital for its correct development and for that of the nervous system (Huang and Craig-Schmidt, 1996). Ruminant diets are low in DHA and its precursor alpha-linolenic acid. In addition, dietary PUFAs are substantially hydrogenated in the rumen. Consequently, it may be argued that the diets of pregnant and lactating ewes may be deficient in DHA and that a response to supplementation may be observed. Studies involving the supplementation of pregnant ewes with supraoptimal levels of vitamin E have shown that lambs born to supplemented dams are more vigorous immediately after birth and have higher liveweight gains (Merrell, 1998). The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of dietary long-chain PUFA in combination with vitamin E supplementation of ewes on ewe and lamb performance.
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