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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

J A Rooke*
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
S Matheson
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
S Ison
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
M Jack
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
C J Ashworth
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute, Midlothian, United Kingdom
C M Dwyer
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Extract

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.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Merrell, B.G. 1999. Proceedings of workshop on vitamin E requirement in sheep. Harper Adams University College, UK.Google Scholar
Rooke, J.A., Dwyer, C.M. and Ashworth, C.J. 2008. Animal. 2, 514–524.Google Scholar