| Titles |
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English :
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Effect of the nutritional status of sheep on wool characteristics
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Arabic :
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علاقة صفات الصوف بالحالة الغذائية للأغنام
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| Abstract |
The present work was carried out at Sakha Experimental Station, Animal Production Research Institute (APRI) on Finnish
Landrace-Rahmani crossbred (1/2F.1/2R) pregnant ewes and their produced lambs. The experimental work started in April, 1996 (starting at the 4th month of pregnancy) and lasted for 11 months (by the 1st cut of lambs, 9 months of age).
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of mineral containing blocks in the management systems of ewes
during pregnancy and suckling. Different criteria were utilized to assess the benefits of mineral blocks including performance of the
animals, mineral concentration in blood, blood hematology and wool production and quality.
Animals and experimental procedure:
Ewes were divided into almost similar two groups according to their age and body weight. The first group was used as a control
group and was fed according to the requirements recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture (1967) and received 1.0 kg concentrate
feed mixture (CFM) + 0.5 kg clover hay/head/day. Treatment group in addition to the same feeding and managerial producers followed for control group and free choice minerals mixture blocks (Bichema, Egypt) were allowed for ewes of group II up to weaning their lambs.
Monthly body weight of ewes and Biweekly body weight of lambs were recorded.
Wool samples (about 100 g) were clipped for all ewes and lambs from the right mid side position close to the skin using Oster
electric clipper and each sample was immediately packed in a plastic bag for determination of physical characteristics.
Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into heparenized 15 ml vacationer tubes. A fresh blood portion (2 ml) was immediately taken for measuring blood parameters and the rest was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. Blood plasma was obtained, packed in 8 ml sterilized vials
ewe (before start, 1 and 2 months later and at weaning lambs) and 5 blood samples from each lamb (at 1 week, 1 month, weaning, 4 months and 6 months of age).
Hemoglobin (HB) concentration (g /1), hematocrite values (%), PCV%, red blood cells (RBC) x 106 /mm3 and white blood cells (WBC) x 103 /mm3 were measured.
Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and cobalt were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, phosphorus was determined using spectro- photometer.
Results:
1- The average calcium concentration in plasma of mineral supplemented ewes was 9.84 mg/100 ml vs. 8.65 mg/100 ml for
control ewes with significant difference between them (P<0.05).
2- Average phosphorous level in plasma of mineral supplemented ewes was significantly higher than of the control group (4.79 vs.
3.91 mg/100 ml).
3- The average plasma Magnesium (Mg) level in mineral supplemented ewes was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in control ewes (2.92 vs. 2.08 mg/100 ml). The postnatal Mg levels were higher than the prenatal values (P<0.05).
4- Mineral-supplementation had no significant effect on copper and Zinc plasma levels in ewes. There were no differences in Cu
plasma levels among the different periods.
5- The average plasma cobalt (Co) level (µg/100 ml) of ewes during the experiment was significantly (P<0.05) higher 0.03 and 0.10 for control and treated groups, respectively.
6- The average plasma calcium concentration in lambs of mineral supplemented group was higher than that of control group (11.31vs . 9.23 mg/l00 ml). There were no significant differences in Ca levels at different ages.
7- The mineral supplemented lambs had significantly (P<0.05) higher level of phosphorous (P) in blood plasma than that in control lambs (6.71 vs. 4.56 mg/100 ml).
8- The average Mg level in plasma supplemented lamb was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in control lambs (3.64 vs. 2.79 ng/100ml).
9- There was significant difference (P<0.05) in copper (Cu) concentration in blood plasma (µg/ 100 ml) of lambs during the experiment between mineral supplemented and control groups, with an average plasma concentration of 71.22 and 63.20 µg/1 00 ml, respectively.
IO-Zinc concentration in plasma of mineral supplemented group was higher (P,0.05) than the level in control (84.42 vs. 70.75 µg/1 00 ml).
11-Mineral supplementation increased plasma cobalt. Levels significantly (P<0.05) from 0.09 µg/1 00 ml in the control group to 0. 14 µg/1 00 ml in the supplemented group.
12-The differences in plasma Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and cobalt levels due to age were not significant.
13- The consumption of mineral blocks by ewes in the first month of introduction was higher (36 g/head/day) and continuous gradual decrease in the course of experiment until it reached to 8 g/head/day.
14- The daily consumption of mineral blocks by lambs was very low during the first three months after weaning (1-2 g/head/day), after that increased to 10g/head/day during the second three months after weaning then it increased further to 18 g/head/day during the last month of experiment.
15- The lowest weight of ewes was recorded at 4 months of pregnancy and highest at 5 months of pregnancy. Differences in body weight of ewes were not significant. Nevertheless, the average body weight of treated ewes at weaning was considerably higher than that of controls (53.92 vs. 51.09 kg).
16-Body weight mean values of the lambs at different ages were higher in the mineral supplemented lambs than the control lambs from the second month of age upword, being significant.
17 - The overall mean value of body weight gain in treated lambs (135.93 gm/h/d) was slightly higher than that of controls (132.97 gm/h/d). Differences between treated lambs did not reach statistical significance
18-0verall mean hematocrite volume in blood of mineral
supplemented ewes (34.06%) differed significantly (P<0.05) from that of controls (32.35%).
19-Mineral supplementation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on blood hemoglobin level and RBC count. Such effect started from the 5th month of pregnancy up ward.
20-Mineral supplementation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on WBC count such effect was increase at 4th and 5th month of pregnancy and decreased at 1 month and 2 months after lambing.
21-0verall mean hematocrite values in blood of mineral supplemented lambs (37.59) was differed significantly (P<0.05) from that of controls (36.39).
22-Hemoglobin values in blood increased as the lambs grow from one week up to 4 months of age then it decreased at 6 months of age.
23-Red blood cells count (RBCs) in blood of lambs were 7.98 and 8.88 for control and treated groups, respectively with a significant differences (P<0.05) due to mineral supplementation.
24- White blood cell counts (WBCs) in lambs was not affected by mineral supplementation.
2S-The effect of mineral supplementation on fleece weight and wool
characteristics were significant (P<0.05). Mean values of moisture regain and purities than those of the control group. Crimp, true wool and coarse wool mean values for the wool of treated lambs were lower than those of the control group.
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| Publication year |
2000
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| Pages |
111p.
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| Availability location |
مكتبة معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى - شارع نادى الصيد - الدقى - الجيزة
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| Availability number |
713
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| Organization Name |
Animal Production Research Institute (APRI)
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| Country |
Egypt
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| Department |
Sheep and Goat Research Department
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - Nutrition
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Ewes.
Lambs.
Management.
Mineral content.
Nutritional requirements.
Performance testing.
Quality.
Sheep.
Wool.
Wool production.
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| Publication Type |
Master Thesis
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