Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Student/animal science department, Razi University, kermanshah, Iran
2 Faculty member/ animal science department. Razi university, Iran
3 Faculty member/Animal science department. Razi university, Iran
Abstract
Introduction Efficient management methods should be used to achieve optimal production of livestock products in breeding, reproduction and feeding stages. If proper nutritional management is not performed correctly at the end of pregnancy, it will have adverse effects on the amount of dry matter intake and the metabolic condition of the animal during early lactation. In all animal tissues, there are variable proportions of mineral elements and vitamins; the concentration of these elements must be within the specified range in order to protect the functional and structural activity of the tissues and to keep the growth, health and productivity of the animal without reduction or damage. Materials and Methods In order to evaluate the effects of selenium and vitamin E supplements administered orally or by injection in late pregnancy on the concentration of selenium, copper, zinc and iron in the blood and milk of ewes and the blood of their lambs this experiment were conducted using 18 pregnant ewes of the first lambing in a completely randomize design with three treatments and six replications. Experimental treatments included: 1) Control (receiving a dose of 10 ml of selenium and vitamin E supplement by injection two weeks before delivery; each ml contains 0.5 mg of sodium selenite and 50 mg of vitamin E). 2) selenium and vitamin E (receiving 0.3 mg of selenium and 50 mg of vitamin E mixed with diet daily per kilogram of dry matter intake) orally from four weeks before delivery and, 3) Injection of 10 ml selenium and vitamin E supplement in two stages including four weeks before calving (five ml) and two weeks before calving (five ml).The Blood samples were collected from the ewes before the administration of supplements and at the time of delivery. Blood was collected from newborn lambs before consuming colostrum and 14 days after birth. Selenium, copper, zinc and iron concentrations were measured in colostrum and milk. Results and Discussion The results of the experiment indicated that the average weight of the ewes two weeks after lambing for ewes that received selenium and vitamin E orally was higher than the control (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the concentration of iron, copper and zinc in the blood serum of ewes or lambs. The concentration of selenium in the serum of ewes and their lambs and the colostrum of ewes that received selenium and vitamin E orally was higher than other ewes. No significant difference was observed between the experimental treatments in terms of the average body condition score (BCS) until the time of delivery, but two weeks after delivery, BCS in the orally supplement of selenium and vitamin E treatment was higher than that of control group.
Conclusion The results of the present study showed that in order to improve the status of selenium in livestock and the convenience of supplement administration, the use of orally selenium and vitamin E supplements is preferred by its injection method.
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