Effects of supplementary nutrition in awassi ewes on sexual behaviors and reproductive traits

Abstract

The present study was conducted to improve sexual behavior in Awassi ewes by the nutritional supplement containing multiple nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and sorbitol. In addition, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of this nutritional supplement on litter size in ewes and birth weight of lambs. Twenty six Awassi ewes (50 ± 3.20 kg), aged 2 to 4 years, and three sexually experienced Awassi rams (90 ± 5.30 kg), aged 3 years, were used. The ewes were sorted by age, body weight and litter size of them in previous years and assigned to one of the two groups (experimental; EG and control; CG). Each group consisted of 13 ewes. The daily ration of the ewes in EG was added 30 g/ewe the nutritional supplement for 5 days before mating period and 5 days during last month of gestation. Despite the fact that there were no statistically differences for sexual behaviors, the number of lambs born, lambing percentage and birth weights of lambs between groups (p > 0.05), our results showed that the combination of nutrients improving animal health and reproduction had a positive effect on embryonic survival, litter size and birth weight.