Haematological and blood chemistry changes in ewes and lambs following supplementation with vitamin E and selenium

1. Four methods of vitamin E and selenium supplementation were evaluated using thirty-nine pregnant ewe-lambs fed on a ration containing 0.043 mg Se/kg and 25 mg vitamin E/kg. Treatments were control, fortified mineral mix (ESe salt) (300 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se), ruminal Se pellets (505 mg Se), drench (300 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se) and intramuscular injection (600 mg vitamin E, 3 mg Se). Only ewes were supplemented, commencing approximately 50 d before parturition. 2. Birth weights were similar for all treatments and live-weight gains of lambs to 56 d of age were improved in all supplemented groups (P < 0.05). There were no clinical cases of nutritional muscular dystrophy. 3. Se concentrations in whole blood were more than doubled in both lambs and ewes drenched or injected; responses to ESe salt and pellets were much smaller. 4. Plasma tocopherol levels were increased in injected dams and their lambs (P < 0.001). 5. Haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte counts were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in control ewes and lambs than in treated lambs. 6. Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) and aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) activities were increased in lambs from control, ESe salt and pellet groups (P < 0.001). Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.1.1.1.9) activity responded to Se supplementation in both ewes and their lambs (P < 0.001) and the response was highest in the injected group, followed, in order, by the drench, pellet, ESe salt and control groups. 7. These studies indicated that in terms of the haematological and blood chemistry changes investigated, the intramuscular injection was most effective, followed by the oral drench. Ruminal pellets and fortified salt were less satisfactor