Effect of Vitamin E alone or with Selenium injection during late pregnancy on colostrum and serum Se, Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations of ewes and their lambs

This study aims to determine the effect of vitamin E alone and Se+ vitamin E supplement on ewes at the last stage of gestation on serum Se, Cu, Zn and Fe status of ewes and their lambs. Sixty fat tail ewes were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Four and two weeks before expected lambing, ewes were injected intramuscularly 0 ml (C) 10 ml vitamin E (T1), 10 ml (T2) selenium and vitamin E respectively. Blood samples were collected from ewes 4 weeks before expected lambing time and on the day of lambing. Blood samples of their lambs were taken from the jugular vein at birth and on 7 days post perturaf. Selenium, Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations of serum and colostrum were measured. The results indicated that the colostrum and serum concentration of Se increased in T2 compared with the others (P<0.05). The colostrum and serum Cu concentrations were significantly increased in T2 ewes and their lambs (P<0.05). The colostrum and serum Zn and Fe concentration of ewes were not affected by supplement(P>0.05). The serum concentration of Cu increased in T2, which was concomitant with a reduction in Zn concentration in serum and colostrums. It seems that an increase in serum concentration of Cu at the end of pregnancy in ewes given Se supplement could disturb the Zn: Cu ratios which in turn lead to Zn reduction. There was a positive effect between serum Se concentration with Cu and also a negative effect between Se and Zn in treated ewes.