title: Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils supplementation on digestion, colostrum production of dairy ewes and lamb mortality and growth.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary essential oils (REO) and the forage nature on ewes' performances, immune response and lambs' growth and mortality. Forty-eight dairy ewes (Sicilo-Sarde) were fed oat-hay or oat-silage supplemented with 400 g of concentrate during pregnancy and 600 g during postpartum. The experimental concentrate contained the same mixture as the control (barley, soybean meal and mineral vitamin supplement) more 0.6 g/kg of REO. Two groups were obtained with each forage (Hay groups: H-C and H-REO; Silage groups: S-C and S-REO). REO increased the dry matter (DM) intake, the nitrogen intake and retention being higher with the silage groups (P < 0.05). REO increased solid non-fat (P = 0.004) and fat contents of colostrum which was higher with hay (P = 0.002). REO decreased lamb mortality (P < 0.05) which averaged 21% for control groups and 6% for H-REO, while no mortality was recorded with S-REO. REO dietary supply improved forage intake and tended to ameliorate colostrum production; it could be a natural additive to improve ewes' performances.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Forage Productions, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Carthage University, Ariana, Tunisia.|Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Carthage University, Carthage, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smeti
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Margalida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: Animal and Forage Productions, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Carthage University, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hadhami
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajji
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alabart
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: ESAK, Le Kef, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahouachi
authors.affiliation: Animal and Forage Productions, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Carthage University, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Naziha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atti
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D012820:Silage
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: colostrum; digestibility; ewe; mortality; rosemary