Selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A status in dairy sheep reared under different feeding systems in Greece

The main purpose of the study was to investigate whether the feeding system applied has any effect on the status of blood selenium (Se) and vitamins A and E in dairy sheep. In total 200 dairy sheep from 10 flocks were used in the study (20 animals per flock). Group A consisted of 100 sheep (five flocks) reared under the intensive feeding system and group B of 100 sheep (five flocks) reared under the semi-intensive feeding system. The 100 sheep of each group consisted of 25 lambs aged 3-6 months, 25 ewes 1-3 years, 25 ewes more than 3 years and 25 non-lactating ewes in late gestation. Another purpose was to evaluate the potential effect of the age and the reproductive stage of the animals on these parameters. To determine the effect of age, 150 of these animals were divided into three subgroups: 50 lambs, 50 non-pregnant lactating ewes aged 1-3 years and 50 non-pregnant lactating ewes aged more than 3 years. For the evaluation of the effect of the reproductive stage the 50 non-lactating ewes in late gestation and the 100 non-pregnant lactating ewes were used. Blood samplings were performed once, between December and January for non-lactating ewes in late gestation and March to May for lambs and lactating ewes. Whole blood Se and vitamin E and A serum concentrations were determined. The main conclusion is that the feeding system significantly affects Se and serum vitamin A concentration, as they were higher in the intensive one. It was secondly concluded that age affects the serum concentrations of vitamin A.