Vitamin E supplementation for the ruminant

Supplementation of pregnant ewes with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) demonstrably improves indicators of neonatal lamb vigour, potentially improving the number of lambs reared per ewe. The present study investigated the effect of supplementing ewes with fish oil and vitamin E (a-tocopherol acetate) throughout both pregnancy and lactation on the performance of lactating ewes and sucking lambs. Forty-eight ewes were supplemented with one of four concentrates containing either Megalac or fish oil plus a basal (50 mg/kg) or supranutritional (500 mg/kg) concentration of vitamin E from 6 weeks pre-partum until 4 weeks post partum in a two-by-two factorial randomised-block design. All concentrates were formulated to contain approximately 60 g/kg supplemental fatty acids. Ewes were housed, penned on sawdust and offered straw ad libitum. Blood samples were taken from ewes and lambs at intervals throughout the experiment and milk samples were obtained at 21 days into lactation. There was no notable effect of dietary vitamin E concentration upon ewe or lamb performance. Ewe dry-matter (DM) intake and yield were unaffected by dietary treatment, although ewes fed fish oil lost less weight during lactation (21.88 kg compared with 23.97 kg for Megalac-supplemented ewes; P , 0.01). Milk fat concentrations (67.3 g/kg compared with 91.8 g/kg; P , 0.01) and yields (6.65 g/h v. 9.26 g/h; P , 0.01) were reduced in ewes fed fish oil and these decreases were associated with lower litter-growth rates (0.49 g/day compared with 0.54 g/day; P , 0.05). Milk protein yield was increased by fish oil supplementation (3.82 g/h) compared with Megalac supplementation (3.28 g/h; P , 0.05); moreover, there was an interaction between fat source and vitamin E concentration in that both protein concentration and yield were significantly lower in milk from ewes fed treatment with Megalac 1 basal vitamin E (MB) compared with the other three treatments. Fish oil supplementation increased the concentrations of C 18:1 trans-, cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), C 20:5 (n-3) and C 22:6 (n-3) within ewe plasma, milk and lamb plasma. The mechanisms by which fish oil supplementation affects milk composition warrants further investigation.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The effect of fish oil supplementation of pregnant and lactating ewes on milk production and lamb performance

Capper

Wilkinson

Mackenzie

et al. 2007

“…However, in this study there was no significant difference between treatments for the products of the oxidation of linolenic acid, suggesting that linolenic acid may be protected from oxidation. The high concentration of vitamin E in the muscles of saltbush-fed sheep has been shown to protect linolenic acid from oxidation (McDowell et al, 1996;Mercier et al, 2004;Salvatori et al, 2004). The consumption of a pasture-based diet rather than grain concentrate has been shown in other studies to increase linolenic acid (Bas and Morand-Fehr, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The effect of ingesting a saltbush and barley ration on the carcass and eating quality of sheepmeat

Pearce

Pethick

Masters

2008

Forage halophytes such as saltbush (Atriplex spp.) are widely used to revegetate Australian saline land and can provide a medium-quality fodder source. An animal house experiment was conducted to investigate differences in the carcass and eating quality of sheep ingesting saltbush from saline land in combination with a barley supplement. Twenty-six merino hoggets (two groups of 13) were fed either a 60 : 40 dried saltbush (Atriplex nummularia): barley (S 1 B) ration or a 33 : 25 : 42 lupins : barley : oaten hay ration (C) for 10 weeks prior to commercial slaughter. After 10 weeks, all sheep were commercially slaughtered and a single loin (from 12th rib to chump) collected from each animal for taste-panel analysis. Carcass weight, total tissue depth over the 12th rib 110 mm from the midline (GR fat depth), ultimate pH and colour were determined and X-ray bone densitometry used to estimate the fat content of the carcass. Blood samples were taken to assess the hormonal response to ingesting these diets and fatty acid profiles of the subcutaneous and intramuscular fat were determined. Both groups grew at the same rate (62 g/day) and had similar hot carcass weights (P . 0.01) (17.2 6 0.3 kg for S 1 B and 17.9 6 0.3 kg for C). However, these live weights may not be high enough to be commercially viable such that saltbush and barley may only be suitable as a maintenance feed. The S 1 B-fed sheep had a significantly (P 5 0.055) lower fat and higher lean content (P , 0.05) than the C group. This is a positive finding as fat denudation is a significant cost to processors and farmers can produce sheep that are depositing less fat or more lean per unit of live-weight gain. The decreased fat and increased lean content were attributed to the higher protein : energy ratio available for production and lower circulating insulin and higher growth hormone of the S 1 B-fed sheep. The lower body-fat content and lower metabolisable energy and digestible organic matter intake did correlate with the sheep fed the S 1 B diet, having a significantly lower percentage of unsaturated fat and equal levels of saturated fat than the C treatment. Diet had no effect on the ultimate pH or colour of the meat. Treatment had no significant effect on any of the eating-quality attributes (P . 0.1). The drying of the saltbush, the shorter length of the experimental period and the low carcass fat content were believed to have contributed to this result. Further field experiments are needed to clarify the benefits to carcass and eating quality of ingesting saltbush.

“…Indeed, when we re-checked the feeding pattern on farms where some sampled animals were on lower limit range values of vitamin E, the farms were either not using any supplement in summer or supplementing only pregnant/lactating females. Therefore, it would appear that some animals might be vitamin E deficient in the time of green pasture, which is unexpected as green forage is very good source of vitamin E (McDowell et al, 1996). The availability of vitamin E can be adversely influenced by poor fat digestion or some other dietary or environmental factors (Herdt and Stowe, 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reference values for biochemical parameters in blood serum of young and adult alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Husáková

Pavlata

Pechová

et al. 2014

The aim of this study was to establish reference interval for biochemical parameters in blood of alpacas on the basis of large population of clinically healthy animals, and to determine the influence of sex, age and season on nitrogen and lipid metabolites, enzymes, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals in blood of alpacas. Blood samples were collected from 311 alpacas (61 males and 201 females > 6 months of age and 49 crias (21 males and 28 females) ⩽ 6 months of age). Selected farms were located in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany). We determined 24 biochemical parameters from blood serum. We performed the comparison of results by the sex of animals and for the older group also the comparison of the results with regard to the season, respectively, to the feeding period. We found no highly significant difference (P < 0.01) between males and females with the exception of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cholesterol. We found 15 significantly different parameters between the group of crias 6 months of age and the older alpacas. Based on our findings we suggest for most parameters to use different reference intervals (especially ALP, cholesterol, total protein, globulin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), GGT and phosphorus) for the two above-mentioned age groups. Another important finding is the differences between some parameters in older group of alpacas in summer/winter feeding period. Animals in the summer feeding period have higher values of parameters related to fat mobilization (β-hydroxybutyrate, NEFA) and liver metabolism (bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase). The winter period with increased feeding of supplements with higher amount of fat, vitamins and minerals is characteristic by increased values of cholesterol, triglycerides, vitamins A and E, and some minerals (K, Ca, Mg and Cl) in blood serum. Clinical laboratory diagnosis of metabolic disturbances may be improved with use of age-based reference values and with consideration of seasonal differences.Keywords: alpaca, llama, reference ranges, clinical pathology, seasonal differences ImplicationsOne of the important methods of monitoring health status is evaluation of blood. To interpret results correctly we need to consider species-specific differences, and influence of other factors: gender, age, nutrition, season and environment. South American camelids -especially alpacas -are growing in popularity all over Europe and yet there is lack of knowledge of above-mentioned factors on their blood parameters. This study evaluated influence of these factors on blood parameters of alpacas. The result should help veterinarians and alpaca breeders with correct interpretation of blood tests to diagnose clinical and subclinical metabolic health problem and possible nutritional disturbances.