Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T18:13:00.139Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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
Get access

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

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