Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils supplementation on digestion, colostrum production of dairy ewes and lamb mortality and growth.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary essential oils (REO) and the forage nature on ewes' performances, immune response and lambs' growth and mortality. Forty-eight dairy ewes (Sicilo-Sarde) were fed oat-hay or oat-silage supplemented with 400 g of concentrate during pregnancy and 600 g during postpartum. The experimental concentrate contained the same mixture as the control (barley, soybean meal and mineral vitamin supplement) more 0.6 g/kg of REO. Two groups were obtained with each forage (Hay groups: H-C and H-REO; Silage groups: S-C and S-REO). REO increased the dry matter (DM) intake, the nitrogen intake and retention being higher with the silage groups (P < 0.05). REO increased solid non-fat (P = 0.004) and fat contents of colostrum which was higher with hay (P = 0.002). REO decreased lamb mortality (P < 0.05) which averaged 21% for control groups and 6% for H-REO, while no mortality was recorded with S-REO. REO dietary supply improved forage intake and tended to ameliorate colostrum production; it could be a natural additive to improve ewes' performances.
['Smeti|Samir|S|', 'Joy|Margalida|M|', 'Hajji|Hadhami|H|', 'Alabart|José Luis|JL|', 'Muñoz|Fernando|F|', 'Mahouachi|Mokhtar|M|', 'Atti|Naziha|N|']
D000821:Animal Feed D000818:Animals D001835:Body Weight D003126:Colostrum D019587:Dietary Supplements D004063:Digestion D004435:Eating D005260:Female D007074:Immunoglobulin G D009822:Oils, Volatile D049590:Postpartum Period D011247:Pregnancy D011270:Pregnancy, Animal D027542:Rosmarinus D012756:Sheep D012820:Silage
digestibility colostrum ewe mortality rosemary