Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Dept. of Animal Sciences Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Gorgan, Gorgan, Iran.
2 Assistant professor, Biotechnology Research Department , Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
3 Animal Science Research Department, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Gorgan, Iran. E-mail: k.yusefi@areeo.ac.ir
4 Biotechnology Research Department ,Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
5 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Increased inflammation and oxidative stress during the transition period may, in addition to having negative effects on ewe health, also have negative effects on fetal health and development. Vitamins and minerals are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Vitamins and minerals are essential for the health and production of ewes because they act as cellular antioxidants and immune modulators. Given the importance of micronutrient nutrition during the transition period of ewes, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation during late pregnancy on blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant and hormonal indices of the Dalagh ewes, and the performance of their lambs.
Method: Forty Dalagh ewes were allocated to four treatments with ten replicates in a completely randomized design during the final stage of pregnancy. The experimental treatments were as follows: 1) Control group: no vitamin and mineral supplement injection, 2) Vitamin group: ewes receiving injectable vitamin supplement, 3) Mineral group: ewes receiving injectable mineral supplement, and 4) Vitamin + mineral group: ewes receiving simultaneously injectable vitamin and mineral supplements. All injections were administered 21 days before lambing and the amounts for mineral and vitamin supplements per ewe were 20 and 5 mg, respectively. The vitamin supplement contained vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and C, while the mineral supplement included calcium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Results: The albumin concentration and albumin:globulin ratio in the blood of ewes that received minerals and vitamins by injection were lower than those in the control group, and the albumin and albumin:globulin ratio in ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously were lower than those in other treatments (P≥0.05). In the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins, the concentration of globulin and ceruloplasmin was higher than that in the control ewes, and their concentration in the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously was higher than those in other treatments (P≥0.05). Cortisol, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant status, and alkaline phosphatase were lower than those in the control group (P≥0.05). Total antioxidant status and alkaline phosphatase in ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously were lower than other treatments (P≥0.05). In the serum of ewes that received minerals and vitamins, hemoglobin concentration was higher than that of control ewes (P≥0.05). Placental expulsion time was adjusted by micronutrient injection, and the shortest placental expulsion time belonged to ewes that received minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05). On the other hand, lamb birth weight improved in ewes injected with minerals and vitamins, and the highest lamb birth weight was for the treatment injected with minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05). 45-day weight, lamb weight gain during the period, daily weight gain, and apparent dry matter digestibility were improved by maternal injection of minerals and vitamins. Also, the number of lambs with diarrhea and days of diarrhea decreased in treatments where the mother received minerals and vitamins, and the lowest number of lambs with diarrhea was in the group receiving vitamins and minerals and vitamins simultaneously (P≥0.05).
Conclusion: In general, simultaneous prepartum injection of minerals and vitamins in ewes during the transition period is recommended. This approach enhances antioxidant capacity, improves immune function, and leads to better health and performance in their lambs.
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