The effect of feeding level during late pregnancy on colostral production and composition in Karakul sheep
2007
Hashemi, Majid | Zamiri, Mohammad Javad | Hoseyni, Hoseyn | Zahedi Far, Mojtaba | Mahmudiyan Fard, Hamid Reza
Colostral production and composition of Karakul sheep under different diets (90% NRC, NRC, 110% NRC) were studied by using 80 pregnant ewes from a commercial flock. Ewes were allocated to 4 equal groups based on age and B.W. three groups were fed by experimental diet during 2 months before parturition and another group was considered as control. Two blood samples were taken from the jugular vein in late pregnancy, and another one immediately after lambing. Production of colostrum was measured from fifteen ewes rearing singletons at 1, 10 and 18 h after lambing and a sample was used for immunological analysis including determination of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and total immunoglobulins. Mean weight (±SD) of colostrum production at first 24 h post lambing in 110% treatment was significantly higher (p0.05) than other treatments. A significant difference (p0.05) observed in the mean content of fat (p0.05), protein (p0.05) and solids-not-fat (p0.01) at first milking in experimental groups and control group. The concentration of IgG in colostrum decreased but in lamb serum increased with time after lambing (P0.001) in all of groups. Concentration of IgG in the serum and colostrum of ewes was not affected by diets.
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