The effects of maternal calcium status during late gestation on lamb growth and survival in twin‐bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture

The effects of maternal calcium status during late gestation on lamb growth and survival in twin‐bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture

Our project aimed to investigate whether low maternal calcium status during late gestation decreased weight, growth and survival of lambs born to twin‐bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture. On day 130 of gestation, approximately a 10 mL blood sample was collected from 108 twin‐bearing Merino ewes. Blo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian veterinary journal Vol. 102; no. 5; pp. 249 - 255
Main Authors: Munn, AL, Swinbourne, AMF, Brougham, B‐J, Wettere, WHEJ, Weaver, AC
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Melbourne Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 01-05-2024
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:
Age
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Animals, Newborn - blood
Animals, Newborn - growth & development
Blood
Body weight
Calcium
Calcium - blood
Calcium phosphates
Cholesterol
Female
Gestation
Grazing
Hypocalcemia
lamb survival
lamb viability
late gestation
Magnesium
Pasture
Pregnancy
sheep
Sheep - blood
Sheep - physiology
Survival
twin‐bearing
twin‐bearing
Calcium
late gestation
lamb viability
lamb survival
sheep
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Summary:Our project aimed to investigate whether low maternal calcium status during late gestation decreased weight, growth and survival of lambs born to twin‐bearing Merino ewes grazing pasture. On day 130 of gestation, approximately a 10 mL blood sample was collected from 108 twin‐bearing Merino ewes. Blood pH and calcium ion concentration were measured in whole blood and serum was analysed for calcium, magnesium, phosphate, beta hydroxy butyrate, non‐esterified fatty acids and cholesterol. Six to 18 h after birth and at 49 days of age, lamb live weight was recorded. Ewe serum calcium level at day 130 of gestation were divided into tertiles (1.58–2.13, 2.14–2.30, and 2.31–2.99 mmol/L) with ewes classified as either Low, Med or High (n = 36 per group). A general linear mixed model was used to analyse the data. Survival to 1, 2, 3 and 7 days of age was lower for lambs born to ewes in the Low calcium group compared with those born in the Med and High calcium groups (P < 0.05). At day 49 of age, lamb survival tended to be lower for lambs in the Low (73.6%) compared with Med (86.8%) and High (85.3%) calcium groups (P < 0.1). There were no differences in lamb body weight (P > 0.05). Calcium levels of ewes in the Low calcium group were, on average, indicative of subclinical hypocalcaemia, with this group of ewes also having the lowest lamb survival rate, suggesting that maternal subclinical hypocalcaemia reduces lamb survival. Further studies, particularly on improving maternal calcium levels, are warranted.
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content type line 23
ISSN:0005-0423
1751-0813
DOI:10.1111/avj.13321