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The influence of vitamin E supplementation during late pregnancy on lamb mortality and ewe productivity in Awassi ewes and their lambs
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2017
Extract
Fetal growth in all animals is exponential with more than 60% of total growth occurring in the final 2 to 3 months of gestation. As a result of this growth pattern, there is a substantial increase in nutrient requirements for the animal in late pregnancy as compared to the needs required for maintenance or early pregnancy (Bell, 1995). Fat soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D and E do not appreciable cross the placenta resulting in minimal liver reserves (Njeru, 1994). This means that newborn lamb is essentially devoid of these vitamins and susceptible deficiency of disease problems. The lamb’s primary source of vitamin A, D and E comes via colostrum ingestion supplied from an adequately supplemented dam. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation during late pregnancy on Awassi fat-tailed lamb mortality and ewe prolificacy.
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- Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2004