THE IMPACT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF IODINE AND SELENIUM ON NUTRIENTS DIGETIBILITY AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF EWES AND THEIR SUCKLING LAMBS

Atotal number of 32 Ossimi pregnant ewes averaged 50.77 ± 2.29 kg and 2.5 years old at 4-6 weeks of late-gestation were used to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of iodine (I) and selenium (Se) on nutrients digestibility and productive performance of ewes and their suckling lambs. The ewes were allocated into four equal groups (8 ewes in each). The ewes were fed on basal diet containing 0.048 mg I and 0.19 mg Se/kg DM (control) supplemented with 0.6 mg I (T1), 0.2 mg Se (T2) and 0.6 mg I plus 0.2 mg Se (T3) /kg DM. The results showed that digestibility of DM, OM, EE, CF and NDF were higher (P<0.05) for ewes fed T2 and T3 diets than those fed control or T1. Digestibility of CP increased (P<0.05) with feeding T3 diet vs. each of T1 or T2. The ADF digestibility was greater (P<0.05) for ewes fed T1, T2 and T3 diets than those fed control. The nutritive value (DCP and TDN) increased (P<0.05) with feeding T1, T2 and T3 diets vs. control. The improving in DCP and TDN was higher (P<0.05) with feeding T3 diet than each of T1 or T2. No significant differences was detected in all productive performance for ewes fed on T1, T2 and T3 diets vs. control. While, the digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) increased (P<0.05) for ewes fed T1, T2 and T3 diets vs. control.The total digestible nutrients intake (TDNI) was higher (P<0.05) for ewes fed T2 and T3 diets compared to control or those fed T1. The averages of DCPI and TDNI were greater (P<0.05) for ewes fed T3 than those fed T1 or T2. Data of lambs showed that the birth weight increased (P<0.01) for lambs born to ewes fed T2 or T3 diets compared to those born to ewes fed control or T1 diet. Lambs born to ewes fed T1, T2 and T3 diets had higher (P<0.01) averages of FBW and daily gain (ADG) vs. control. Averages of final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) were improved (P<0.01) for lambs born to ewes fed T3 diet vs. control or fed on T1. This study demonstrated that the combined I and Se dietary supplementation led to positive effects on nutrients digestibility, nutritive values of ewes diet and enhancing growth performance of their suckling lambs.