introduction as pregnancy progresses, nutrient requirements of fetus and thereby ewe increases and some changes in the levels of blood metabolites including glucose, cholesterol and total protein may occur. during gestation, maternal tissues contribute to supplying energy that required for fetus resulting in changes of ewe blood metabolites; however other factors such as breed, age, feeding typ...

To examine effects of nutritional plane and Se supplementation on colostrum quality and mammary development, individually fed, pregnant Rambouillet ewe lambs were allotted randomly to 1 of 6 treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. Main effects included dietary Se level, which began at breeding (d = 0) [adequate Se (9.5 mug/kg of BW) vs. high Se (81.8 mug/kg of BW)], and plane of nutrition,...

An investigation on the occurrence of peri-parturient rise in trichostrongylid nematode egg output in breeding ewes was carried out on a Ranch in the semi-arid area of Kajiado District in Kenya during the period May 1999-April 2000. During the study, 20 ewes randomly selected from the breeding stock and 20 un-mated female yearlings were monitored for faecal strongyle egg output every 3 weeks. A...

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that affects domesticated ruminants and occasionally humans. Classical RVF vaccines are based on formalin-inactivated virus or the live-attenuated Smithburn strain. The inactivated vaccine is highly safe but requires multiple administrations and yearly re-vaccinations. Although the Smithburn vaccine provides solid protection after a si...

Merino ewes (n = 300) grazing on sparse annual pasture and supplemented with hay were given a CIDR (controlled internal drug release) device to synchronise oestrus. Ewes in Groups 1 and 2 received 750 g/head of lupin grain each day for 9 days prior to the expected oestrus and ewes in Group 3 received a hay-only supplement. After joining ewes in Group 1 continued to receive the lupin supplement ...

BACKGROUND Campylobacter jejuni is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of many food-animals including sheep without causing visible clinical symptoms of disease. However, C. jejuni has been implicated in ovine abortion cases worldwide. Specifically, in the USA, the C. jejuni sheep abortion (SA) clone has been increasingly associated with sheep abortion. In vivo studies in sheep (the na...

Intake is a multifactorial process that influenced by animal type, environmental factors, and diet characteristics. Sheep, especially, have specific eating habits, with greater selection of ingested feed compared to cattle. Thus, predictive equations for dry matter intake (DMI) must constantly be reviewed. The objective this study was combine different adjustment factors develop one continuous ...

BACKGROUND Tocopherols have biphasic, proangiogenic and antiangiogenic therapeutic effects. The objective of this clinical trial was to clarify tocopherol's placental angiogenic potential in late pregnant ewes following oral supplementation. METHODS Eighteen pregnant ewes during late gestation were selected for this study. Ewes were given oral supplementation of 500 mg of alpha-tocopherol (aT...

The objectives were to examine effects of dietary Se supplementation and nutrient restriction during defined periods of gestation on maternal adaptations to pregnancy in primigravid sheep. Sixty-four pregnant Western Whiteface ewe lambs were assigned to treatments in a 2 x 4 factorial design. Treatments were dietary Se [adequate Se (ASe; 3.05 microg/kg of BW) vs. high Se (HSe; 70.4 microg/kg of...

The objective was to describe the effects of dietary Se concentration and source on fetal and maternal Se load when fed to nulliparous ewes during mid- to late pregnancy. Pregnant, nulliparous ewes (n = 32; 45.6 +/- 2.3 kg; 330 +/- 17 d of age) were randomly assigned to treatment diets. Treatments were 3.5 microg of Se.kg of BW(-1) x d(-1) from the basal Se in the diet (C1X); 75 (S20X) and 350 ...