Reproductive performance and lamb’s birth weight in Ossimi ewes treated with organic selenium and nano-selenium under Upper Egyptian condition

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess reproductive performance, estrus signs, and lamb's birth weight in Ossimi ewes treated with organic selenium and Nano-selenium under Upper Egyptian conditions. In this experiment, a total of 30 ewes were divided into three equal groups (10 ewes /each). All of the animals were given intra-vaginal sponges (IVS) impregnated with medroxy-progesterone-acetate (MAP, 40 mg) for 14 days. Then, in the G1: (CG) control group, and the ewes in G2 (SeG) were given organic selenium 3 mg/ewe orally for 14 days from insert IVS, whereas the ewes in G3: (N-SeG) were given Nano-selenium 0.2 mg/animal orally for 14 days from insert IVS. Also, after 50±5 days of parturition (post-partum), the ewes divided randomly into 3 equal groups (10 ewes/each), and managed with the same previous treatments. The results showed that ewes given organic selenium and Nano-selenium had longer (P<0.01) in estrus duration and took a shorter (P<0.01) period to show estrus than control group in both the first service and post-partum. In addition, during the first service and post-partum, the estrus response in SeG and N-SeG were significantly higher (P<0.05) than CG. However, the intensities of estrus signs as swollen vulvar lips and redness of the vaginal membranes were clearly apparent on the ewes in SeG and N-SeG compared to the CG. Also, the body weight of lambs born from ewes treated with organic selenium and Nano-selenium increased significantly (P<0.01) compared to the control group. The body weight of the lambs in N-SeG was higher (P<0.01) after 15 days of parturition than in CG. In conclusion, treatment with organic selenium and Nano-selenium could improve the reproductive performance, estrus signs, and lamb birth weight in ewes under Upper Egyptian climatic conditions.