Impact of Vitamin E and Selenium on the Hematological, Biochemical and Productive Parameters of Pregnant Awassi Ewes

Twenty four pregnant ewes averaged 45.75 ± 2.7 kg were used to evaluate impact of vitamin E plus selenium (Se) injection on productive characteristics and some physiological indicators of the ewes and their kids. Randomly, The ewes divided into 2 groups (12 ewes each). The control (first group) (G1) injected with 1.0 ml of saline solution to each head, while the treated ewes (second group) (G2) were injected intramuscularly with 1.0 ml/head viteselene. The ml of viteselene contained 150 mg vitamin E acetate and 1.67 mg saodium selenite. The ewes were injected with viteselene biweekly starting at four weeks late pregnancy and after parturition (lactation) for twelve weeks. The results indicate that lambs born from treated ewes (G2) proved higher (P<0.05) daily gain and body weight than those born from control ewes (G1). Blood Hb concentrations significantly raised for G2 compared with G1. Lambs born from treated ewes had significantly higher values (P<0.05 to P<0.01) of Red Blood Cells (RBCs), Hemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) concentration than those born from control ewes. The total count of leucocytes increased (P<0.05) for treated ewes, lymphocytes and eosinophils percentages increased (P<0.05) while neutrophils, basophils and monocytes were insignificantly changes compared with the control ewes. Lambs born from G2 showed insignificant increase in total count of leucocytes accompanied with an altitude (P<0.05) in lymphocytes and a decline (P<0.01) in neutrophils with insignificantly changes in eosinophils, basophils and monocytes percentages compared to lambs born from G1. In vitamin E plus Se-injected ewes and their lambs, there were significant (P<0.05 to P<0.01) high in total protein and globulin. Changes in Albumin, Total lipids and Glucose concentrations for treated ewes and their lambs were not significant, while plasma T3 and T4 levels were higher (P<0.05) in treated ewes (G2) compared with control ewes. Plasma level of T3 only was higher (P<0.05) in lambs that born from treated ewes (G2) than those born from control ewes (G1). Our results indicated that administration of vitamin E-Se to ewes at one month late pregnancy and after parturition (lactation) enhanced growth characteristics, immune responses and viability of their lambs as a consequence of favorable indicators in their physiological parameters