Abstract
The proper development and growth of the fetus and newborn lambs requires an adequate transport of nutrients across the placenta during late gestation and the mammary gland during early lactation. The effect of calcium (Ca) supplementation as calcium carbonate (CC) and injection of Vitamin AD
3E (75
000
IU) on Awassi ewe productivity at early lactation and the growth of newborn lamb was studied. Forty Awassi ewes, 3.5±1 years old, weighing 61±6.4
kg BW at parturition were selected and assigned randomly to four treatment groups based on ration supplementation and vitamin injection: group 1 received 1.4% CC in the ration; group 2 received 2.4% CC in the ration; group 3 received 1.4% CC in the ration plus two intramuscular doses of Vitamin AD
3E; group 4 received 2.4% CC in the ration plus two intramuscular doses of Vitamin AD
3E. Vitamin injections in groups 3 and 4 were given 15 and 30 days postpartum. The experiment started in January and ended in March. Blood and milk samples were collected from dams and lambs every 20 days and the animals were weighed every 15 days. Milk and blood samples were prepared and analyzed for Ca concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).
Ca concentrations in blood serum of ewes and newborn lambs for group 4, at 60 days postpartum were higher (8.9 and 9.6
mg/dl;
P<0.10) compared to other groups. A significant (
P<0.05) increase in lambs average body weight gain (g per day) was detected during the last 15 days before weaning in groups 2 and 4 (268.3 and 269.7
g per day, respectively) compared to groups 1 and 3 (230.1 and 21 6.4
g per day, respectively). Moreover, a significant (
P<0.05) increase in milk ash percentage was observed 60 days postpartum in groups 2 and 4 (1.23 and 1.1%, respectively) compared to groups 1 and 3 (1.02 and 0.96%, respectively). No significant differences were detected on milk yield and body weight between the four ewe groups as a result of treatments. Results indicated that feeding 2.4% CC with or without Vitamin AD
3E to Awassi ewes at parturition improved their blood serum Ca and the average body weight gain of their lambs.