Effects of the fat-tailed ewes' body condition scores at lambing on their metabolic profile and offspring growth
2020
Abstract. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of body condition
score (BCS) of fat-tailed Barbarine ewes at lambing on their metabolic profile
around parturition and lamb's growth. The experiment was carried out on 69 Barbarine ewes, divided into three groups according to BCS, which were inferior
to 2, between 2 and 2.5 and superior to 2.5 for the thin, middle and
fat group, respectively. Along the trial, all groups received the same
dietary treatment based on hay, pasture and concentrate. Birth weight (Bi-W), weights at 30 and 70 d (W30 and W70) and average
daily gains (ADGs) of lambs were recorded. Metabolites were determined at
late pregnancy and at the beginning of lactation. Ewes' BCS at lambing had
no effect on lambs' Bi-W ( P>0.05 ), which was 3.8, 3.8 and 3.9
kg, respectively, for thin, middle and fat groups. However, W30, W70 and ADG
increased with a mother's BCS. A positive correlation between lamb growth
parameters and ewe body weight and BCS at weaning was recorded. Energetic
metabolites (glucose and triglycerides) and proteic metabolites (creatinine,
total protein and urea) were similar among groups according to BCS but
significantly different between pregnancy and lactation stages except
triglycerides and urea. In conclusion, BCS may be used as dietary management
tool during ewe lactation. With the transition from pregnancy to
lactation, the content of some metabolites has changed irrespective of BCS;
this aspect needs more investigations.
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