title: Effects of prepartum sustained-release trace elements ruminal bolus on performance, colustrum composition and blood metabolites in Najdi ewes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation of slow release bolus of selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), phosphorous (P), manganese (Mn), and iodine (I) at late gestation (60 day prepartum) on performance of Najdi ewes and their newborn. Twenty Najdi ewes at late gestation were randomly selected from a herd raised under an intensive system and equally divided into two groups (control and treated). Blood samples were collected from ewes and newborns at parturition. Body weights of newborns were taken at birth, 30 and 60 days. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in Cu and Co in blood of dams treated with boluses with an increase (P < 0.05) in blood P, Zn, Cu, Co, and Se of their newborn lambs were observed. Creatinine and triglyceride were significantly (P < 0.05) low in treated newborn while urea was significantly (P < 0.05) high in the same group. In dams, significantly (P < 0.05) low concentration of triglyceride was observed. Body weight of lambs from treated group at 30 days was significantly (P < 0.05) higher when compared with the control. In conclusion, bolus of trace minerals at late gestation improved some mineral status of ewes and the newborns with higher body weight.
authors.affiliation: College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Production, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mutassim M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.affiliation: College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Production, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Riyadh S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Aljumaah
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. rifatullahkhhan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rifat Ullah
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Colostrum; Metabolites; Najdi ewes; Newborns; Trace mineral boluses