ABSTRACT

The effect of flushing on litter size, lamb weight, colostrum composition and blood profile of pregnant WAD ewes was evaluated in a 12 month study. Eight ewes were randomly divided into two equal groups of four ewes per group. Group A was maintained on a basal forage sward while group B was in addition offered concentrate supplementation at 3% of their body weight. Both the forage sward and the concentrate diet were fed from week 2 prior to breeding to week 2 postpartum. The results which were analysed using student T — test revealed that except for crude fibre, all proximate components (dry matter(DM), crude protein(CP), nitrogen free extract(NFE). ether extract(EE), gross energy(GE) and ash) were higher (P<0.05) for the concentrate than the forage sward. Lamb weight (1.93 vs 1.05kg), conception rate (100 vs 75%), dry matter intake (829.92 vs 790.6g/d) and twinning (1 vs 0) were higher (P><0.05) for the flushed compared to the unflushed group, However, maternal mortality was higher (P><0.05) for the unfiushed ewes (100 vs 75%). Save for butterfat, other colostrum constijuents (%) were not influenced (P>0.05) by treatments or groups. Butterfat value (%) was higher (P<0.05) for flushed ewes (6.93) relative to unflushed (6.77) ewes. Calcium, potassium and phosphorous concentrations in colostrurn differed significantly (P><0.05) among treatment groups; the values (%) were 0.17, 0.18; 0.12, 0.13 and 0.78, 0.83 respectively for groups A and B. Values for haematological parameters (RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC) were similar (P>0.05) for both experimental groups, however, haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood cell (WBC) had superior values (P<0.05) for the flushed ewes (11.26, 33.74, 6.64) than the unflushed (10.63, 3 1.90, 6.20) ewes. For biochemical blood profile, serum albumin, serum glutarnic pyruvic transarninase SGPT, urea, potassium and sodium were higher for group A while total protein (TP), globulin, serum glutamic oxalo-acetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphate (ALP), tricarbonic acid (HCO3) and glucose showed no significant differences ((P>0.05) among treatment groups. The result shows that flushing improves reproductive performance, litter size, lamb birth weight and blood profile of sheep.