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The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation of ewes on neonatal lamb vigour, lamb growth and colostrum parameters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

J. L. Capper ,
R. G. Wilkinson ,
L. A. Sinclair ,
S. E. Pattinson  and
A. M. Mackenzie
J. L. Capper
Affiliation:
Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
R. G. Wilkinson
Affiliation:
Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
L. A. Sinclair
Affiliation:
Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
S. E. Pattinson
Affiliation:
Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
A. M. Mackenzie
Affiliation:
Animal Science Research Centre, Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
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Extract

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.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2002 , 2002 , pp. 7
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2002

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References

Merrell, B. G. (1998). The effects on lamb survival rate of supplementing ewes with vitamin E during late pregnancy. Sheep Veterinary Society Proceedings 22 57–61.Google Scholar
Huang, M. and Craig-Schmidt, M. C. (1996). Arachidonate and docosahexaenoate added to infant formula influence fatty acid composition and subsequent eicosanoid production in neonatal pigs. Journal of Nutrition 126: 9 2199–2208.Google Scholar