The use of medicinal plants in the diet of Roman breed lactating ewes and its effect on the performance and blood parameters of suckling male lambs

Abstract

Background and objective: The use of medicinal plants as growth promoters is known as one of the suitable alternatives with multiple effects instead of antibiotics in animal feed. Several studies have been conducted on the use of medicinal plants or their essential oils and extracts in ruminants, but in most of these studies, the effect of these plants has been directly investigated on the growth and production performance of the animal itself. In this experiment, the effect of a mixture of medicinal plants as nutritional additives in the diet of Raman lactating ewes on the performance and blood parameters of male suckling lambs has been investigated.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four lactating Roman ewes of the first calving, the average BW of 50.2 ± 1.2 and the average milk yield of 1107.03 ± 122.25 along with 24 suckling male lambs with an average BW of 3.34 ± 0.44 were divided into four groups six in each, in a completely randomized design and kept in individual pen for 65 days. The experimental groups of mother ewes included: control (basic diet) and first, second and third treatments, in addition to the basic diet, were received 15 grams of cumin, coriander and peppermint mixed powder with the ratios of 60:30: 10; 10:45:45 and 30:60:10 %, respectively. Male lambs did not receive the herbal mixture supplement. Lambs were weighed every 15 days. At the end of the experiment, before morning feeding, blood was taken from the jugular vein of the lambs in order to determine the parameters of hematology, biochemical, liver enzymes and antioxidant properties.

Result: Based on the results of this research, no significant difference was observed between the control group and treatments in terms of final weight and daily weight gain of lambs. The concentration and volume percentage of red blood cells of lambs in the third treatment were lower than in other groups (P<0.05). The amount of hemoglobin was higher in the first treatment and lower in the third treatment, but there was no significant difference with the control group. The number of white blood cells and the differential count of these cells were not affected by the experimental treatments. The blood glucose concentration was the highest in the first experimental treatment and the lowest in the third treatment, although there was no significant difference compared to the control. The concentration of this parameter in the first compared to the third treatment was statistically different (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of total protein and creatinine concentrations. Triglyceride concentration in the second treatment was higher than the control (P<0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase activity in the second and third treatments was lower than in the control (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde index were not affected.

Conclusion:
The results of the experiment showed that the use of a mixture of cumin, coriander and peppermint plants with different proportions in the ration of mother ewes, despite the favorable effects on some blood parameters of suckling male lambs, did not have a significant effect on the performance and antioxidant status of their blood.