Effect of vitamin A or C on physiological and reproductive response of Rahmani ewes during subtropical summer breeding season

•Effects of vitamin A or C on heat tolerance and reproduction were studied in ewes.•Vitamin A increased heat tolerance of Rahmani ewes at the beginning of summer season.•Both vitamins improved metabolism of ewes around mating time and early pregnancy.•Both vitamins enhanced progesterone concentratio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Small ruminant research 2016-11, Vol.144, p.313-319
Main Authors: Hashem, N.M., Abd-Elrazek, D., Abo-Elezz, Z.R., Latif, M.G.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Heat tolerance
Ovarian activity
Rahmani sheep
Vitamins
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Summary:•Effects of vitamin A or C on heat tolerance and reproduction were studied in ewes.•Vitamin A increased heat tolerance of Rahmani ewes at the beginning of summer season.•Both vitamins improved metabolism of ewes around mating time and early pregnancy.•Both vitamins enhanced progesterone concentration during early pregnancy.•Vitamin A increased pregnancy outcomes during summer breeding season. In the present study, 33 Rahmani ewes were equally divided into 3 groups: 1. Control group (non-treated ewes); 2. Vitamin A-group (supplemented orally one capsule containing 50 000 IU vitamin A/day); and 3. Vitamin C-group (dosed with 10ml aqueous solution containing 3g vitamin C/day). All ewes were run as one flock and kept under the conditions prevailing in the sheep-farm in summer. The vitamin treatment started in June and lasted for 50days. Blood samples were collected and rectal temperature (RT) and ‎respiration rate (RR) were recorded at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. every 10days during the treatment period. The ‎temperature-humidity index (THI), coefficient of heat tolerance (CHT) and index of adaptability ‎ (IA) were calculated. Estrus was synchronized and ewes in heat were mated by ‎day 25 of the vitamin-treatment. Ultrasonic examinations of ovarian structures were carried out during ‎the follicular (day of estrus) and mid-luteal (day 7 post-mating) phases. Estradiol (E2) was determined on the day of estrus and progesterone (P4) was ‎determined on days 12 and 25 post-mating. Both vitamins did not affect heat tolerance parameters ‎including RT, RR, CHT or IA. However, both vitamins increased significantly ‎(P
ISSN:0921-4488
1879-0941
DOI:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.10.013