IMPACT OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS ALGAE AND VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION TO LATE PREGNANT EWES ON THEIR LAMB’S SURVIVABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Micronutrient supplementation during late gestation can enhance the metabolic profile and physiological wellbeing of ewes and their lambs. This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of Spirulina platensis (SP) and vitamin A supplementation during late gestation on the pregnant ewes’ health and their newly born lambs’ viability and performance. One month before lambing, thirty six pregnant ewes (47.4±0.52 kg BW) were randomly assigned into three experimental groups (n=6 with 2 replicates for each treatment) and received one of three treatments: intramuscular injection of 1 mL saline per ewe twice a week (control); 1 g/10 kg BW of ewes /day of Spirulina platensis powder (SP) was added to the concentrate mixture; and intramuscular injection of 1 mL vitamin A (50,000 IU) per ewe twice a week. Results revealed that significantly (P< 0.05) decreased in the ewes’ serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and increased the serum creatinine level of control group after lambing. However, supplementation with SP and vitamin A normalized serum ALT activity and creatinine level after lambing. Also, SP enhanced serum levels of glucose, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol after lambing. In addition, supplementation of late pregnant ewes with SPincreased total leucocytes count and serum vitamin A concentration of their newly born lambs. Furthermore, SP and vitamin A supplementation to the pregnant ewes increased newly born lambs’ birth weights and body temperatures, while they decreased the stillbirth by 56% (11.1%) and 43% (14.3%), respectively compared to those of the control group (25%). Finally, SP and vitamin A ameliorated the lambing-induced stress in ewes and lambs represented by reducing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in both ewes and their lambs. Thus, supplementation of pregnant ewes with SP and vitamin A improved their health at lambing and enhanced their lambs’ survivability and performance.