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

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