Reproductive prolificacy, growth responses and mortality rates in pregnant ewes and their lambs supplemented with selenium and vitamin E

Supplementation with either selenium or vitamin E or both had a significant effect on reproductive performance in sheep, when compared with control group. Significant response in growth rate was recorded, varied from p <0.05 to 0.001 at birth, until 3rd week, with increases in gain/day. High% of number of lambs born/ewe reaching to 130, 120 and 160% for vitamin E, selenium and vitamin E and selenium groups, respectively. Mortality rate was markedly reduced, with its elevation in control group reaching to 75%, developing WMD, while none of the lambs of supplemented groups developed WMD. Increased number of ewes with multiple births [twins and triplets], but there was no difference between supplemented groups. Decreased percentage of ewes had either dystocia or vaginal prolapse and the incidence of abortion

effect of vitamin E and selenium in the treatment of a field out break of white muscle disease in lambs

A flock of 30 one-week old lambs [10 clinically affected with WMD and the rest were apparently clinically normal] were successfully treated with selenium and vitamin E injection. Whole blood selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity GSH-PK were determined, with highly significant correlation between them [r = 0.958, P <0.001], indicating selenium deficiency. Serum CK and AST activities were proportional to the extent of muscle damage and permit the objective diagnosis either clinically or subclinically without sacrifice of the animal. It was recommended that diagnostic efforts should differentiate between WMD due to selenium or vitamin E or due to combined deficiency, although the sparing effects between selenium and vitamin E