Thermogenesis, blood metabolites and hormones, and growth of lambs born to ewes supplemented with algae-derived docosahexaenoic acid.

摘要: Neonatal lamb mortality is a major factor affecting profitability in the sheep industry, and thermogenesis key element neonatal survival. Increased vigor has been reported when ewes were supplemented during late gestation with algae-derived docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); however, effects of DHA on immunocompetence have not investigated. Eighty twin-bearing Targhee (ages 2 to 5 yr; 68.5 ± 3 kg) assigned randomly 1 supplement treatments determine feeding early lactation thermogenesis, serum metabolites hormones, growth. Supplement 12 g·ewe(-1)·d(-1) (DHA Gold Advanced Bionutrition Corp., Columbia, MD; DHA); no (control). Supplements individually fed daily last 30 d (±7 d) pen (6 pens/treatment 6 or 7 ewes/pen) first 38 lactation. One hour after lambing before nursing, twin-born lambs weighed, blood sampled via jugular puncture, placed dry cold chamber for min (0°C), rectal temperatures recorded every minute min. Lambs removed from chamber, sampled, warmed 15 min, returned their dam. Ewes colostrum samples collected h postpartum. Ewe sera assayed glucose, NEFA, cortisol, leptin. Lamb temperature, leptin, birth weights did differ between treatments. The BW at was greater (P = 0.03) born control than DHA-supplemented ewes; had specific gravity 0.05) ewes. Overall, despite potentially positive effect ewe colostral IgG concentrations, supplementation negative affect indices thermogenesis.