Maternal supplementation of twin bearing ewes with calcium and magnesium alters immune status and weight gain of their lambs

Ataollahi, Forough; Friend, Michael; McGrath, Shawn; Dutton, Geoff; Peters, Andrew; Bhanugopan, Marie

doi:10.1016/j.vas.2020.100097

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…However, differences in CP content of dietary components available may have contributed to these results, although the innate chemistry of the diets is a product of their species composition, as well as their quality. Further, the day 1 TAS, GPx, and NEFA values and trends used as covariates are in line with existing literature (Ataollahi et al, 2020;Beck et al, 2021a). The DIV ewes had improved antioxidant status and some evidence of potentially reduced oxidative and metabolic stress, or greater capacity to cope with lambing stress as indicated by the greater GPx, TAS, and lower NEFA 24 h after lambing.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

A diverse diet as an alternative to ryegrass can improve the total antioxidant status of dams at lambing

Garrett

Marshall

Beck

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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The objective of this experiment was to determine if providing ewes in the final trimester of pregnancy with choice from diverse diet components would reduce markers of oxidative and metabolic stress in ewes and improve lamb birth weights relative to ewes offered only one forage species, repetitively. Fifty-four, twin bearing Coopworth ewes [initial live weight (LW) = 69.82 ± 1.16 kg] were blocked by weight onto iso-energetic diets with either choice from taxonomically diverse plants [DIV; spatially separated strips of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)] or a ryegrass only diet (RYE) for the final third of gestation. The ewes offered the DIV diet birthed 8.9% heavier lambs (5.64 ± 0.20 kg) than RYE ewes (5.18 ± 0.20 kg; P = 0.03). In addition, the DIV ewes had greater (P < 0.01) glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status, and lower (P = 0.01) plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations than the RYE fed ewes 24 h after lambing. The results indicate that the DIV diet can improve antioxidant status and reduce some markers of oxidative and metabolic stress at lambing compared to a conventional RYE diet.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

A diverse diet as an alternative to ryegrass can improve the total antioxidant status of dams at lambing

Garrett

Marshall

Beck

et al. 2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…Pre-lambing supplementation of ewes with cereal grains, such as maize has increased colostrum production [6], which would be likely to impact lamb survival through increased nutrition for growth, immunity, and heat production. Supplementation of ewes with calcium and magnesium has been found to increase ewe weight gains with calcium, and lamb weight gains with magnesium [7,8]. Calcium and magnesium are involved in milk production and smooth muscle contraction for parturition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey of New South Wales Sheep Producer Practices and Perceptions on Lamb Mortality and Ewe Supplementation

Kopp

Hernández‐Jover

Robertson

et al. 2020

Animals

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High lamb mortality rates reduce profitability and reduce the perceived animal welfare standards of the industry. This study aimed to understand producer knowledge of lamb mortality rates and causes of lamb mortality, and to investigate various practices and perceptions of producers that may contribute to lamb deaths. Postal and online surveys gathered data on Australian sheep producer’s knowledge and practices around lambing and management practices. Based on results, approximately 50% of producers estimated less than 10% mortality of lambs between birth and marking, compared to published data estimates of 20–25% mortality. Pre-lambing vaccination of ewes was not undertaken by 10–20% of producers. Ninety-six percent of producers vaccinated lambs; however, 17% of Merino and 23% of crossbred lamb producers only gave a single vaccination instead of the recommended initial vaccine and booster. The lower estimated mortality impacts producer’s perceived benefits of management strategies being undertaken. Research undertaken needs to be more effectively distributed to producers via extension services to ensure producers understand the causes of mortality. Important messages to convey to producers include the limited impact of predation in most cases and the total costs of lamb mortality on-farm.

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“…There was no indication from the ewe mortality rates that Ca and Mg supplementation reduced the risk of ewe death or dystocia, which is known to occur in clinically Ca-deficient ewes due to reduced uterine activity (Robalo Silva and Noakes 1984). Likewise, although supplementation has improved the immunity status of lambs (Ataollahi et al 2020), and may reduce the duration of parturition even in ewes with adequate Ca and Mg concentrations (Ataollahi et al 2021), if these occurred in the current study, they did not increase lamb survival. Lambs that survive a difficult birth have a reduced ability to regulate body temperature (Darwish and Ashmawy 2011), and an increased latency to suckle (Dwyer 2003;Dutra and Banchero 2011), both of which make them more susceptible to hypothermia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Calcium and magnesium supplementation of ewes grazing pasture did not improve lamb survival

et al. 2022

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Context. Clinical deficiencies of calcium and magnesium may result in the metabolic disorders hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia, resulting in ewe and lamb mortality. However, the contribution of subclinical deficiencies to perinatal lamb mortality in grazing flocks is unclear. Aims. To test the hypothesis that calcium and magnesium supplementation during the lambing period would increase lamb survival to marking age. Methods. In 2017, an on-farm study used five flocks across New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. On each farm, twin-bearing mature Merino ewes (n = 400-600) grazing pasture were allocated to two replicates of control and supplemented treatments. The supplemented groups were offered 30 g/ewe per day of a loose lick containing magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 (H 2 O) 6 ), calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 •(H 2 O) 2 , and salt (NaCl), in the ratio 12.5:32.5:55.0, designed to have a low dietary cation-anion difference (−390 meq/100 g). A second study was conducted in 2018 on one farm to test the form of supplement. This study used two replicates of three treatments: control; a low-dietary cation-anion difference supplement as used in 2017; and a standard lime, Causmag (calcined MgO) and salt loose mix (ratio 1:1:1). Mature twin-bearing composite ewes (n = 600) were allocated to groups and those supplemented were offered minerals for the last month of pregnancy and during the lambing period. Blood and urine samples were collected in both experiments for analyses of mineral concentrations. Key results. In the 2017 study, only two flocks consumed >10 g/ewe of supplement per day, and supplementation did not increase lamb survival to marking age in these flocks. In the 2018 study, the mean consumption of supplement was 18 or 20 g/ewe per day. Of non-supplemented ewes, 61% were deficient in plasma calcium (≤90 mg/L) and 17% were deficient in magnesium (≤18 mg/L) at Day 140 after the start of joining. Lamb survival was not increased by supplementation and was 77 ± 3.8% in both treatments. Conclusions. Calcium and magnesium supplementation did not increase lamb survival. Implications. Lamb survival was not increased by calcium and magnesium supplementation; however, evaluation under a wider range of grazing conditions with adequate supplement intake is required.

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Maternal supplementation of twin bearing ewes with calcium and magnesium alters immune status and weight gain of their lambs

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

A diverse diet as an alternative to ryegrass can improve the total antioxidant status of dams at lambing

A diverse diet as an alternative to ryegrass can improve the total antioxidant status of dams at lambing

A Survey of New South Wales Sheep Producer Practices and Perceptions on Lamb Mortality and Ewe Supplementation

Calcium and magnesium supplementation of ewes grazing pasture did not improve lamb survival

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