PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF OSSIMI EWES AND THEIR LAMBS TO DIETARY SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION

A total number of 24 Ossimi pregnant ewes averaged 38.06 ± 2.09 kg at 4 -6 weeks of late gestation were used to evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) supplementation upon productive performance, nutrient digestibility, some biochemical indices and antioxidant status of Ossimi ewes and their suckling lambs. They were fed on basal diet (control) supplemented with Se at 0.3 mg as sodium selenite (T1) or Nano Se (T2) /kg DM. The results showed that OM, CP, EE, CF and ADF digestibility were increased (P<0.05) for ewes fed T2 compared to those fed T1 or control. Birth weight, FBW and ADG were improved (P<0.05) for lambs born to ewes fed T1 or T2 diets vs. control. Milk yield, FCM, milk fat yield and milk protein yield recorded higher (P<0.05) values for ewes fed T1 or T2 than the control one. Serum IgG, total protein, albumin, globulin, thyroid hormones, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity were higher (P<0.05) for both ewes fed T1 or T2 and their lambs when compared to respective control. Serum cholesterol, liver enzymes (ALT and AST) and urea concentrations showed a decrease (P<0.05) for ewes fed T1 or T2 and their respective lambs compared to those fed control one It is concluded that dietary supplementation of nano Se at 0.3 mg/Kg DM to Ossimi ewes was more potent than inorganic Se to improve their nutrients digestibility, productive performance, some serum biochemical indices and antioxidant status, leading to better growth performance and health of their suckling lambs.