The effect on lamb vigour of adding supplementary vitamin E to ewe diets in late pregnancy

Abstract

Neonatal lamb mortality represents both a welfare issue and an important production inefficiency. Approximately 80% of lamb mortality can be attributed to the starvation-mismothering-exposure complex and occurs in the first 3 days after birth. Sub-optimal supply of trace elements and vitamins to the ewe is a potential risk factor in lamb mortality with Se, vitamin E and fatty acids the most likely candidates (Rooke et al. 2008). Responses to vitamin E supplementation above requirement in the last third of gestation are variable probably because of differences between studies in route of administration, dose administered and pre-experiment vitamin E status of the ewe population. The object of the experiment was to characterise responses in lamb viability to supplementation of the maternal diet with vitamin E above the stated requirement.