The effect of twinship on mineral matter, immunoglobulin G and lamb birth weight in late pregnant ewes and their newborn lambs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of twinship on the mineral matter, immunoglobulin G (IgG), andlamb birth weight in late pregnant ewes and their lambs. The material of the study consisted of the 18 Kıvırcık breedewes, which were 130-150 days pregnant, and their 27 newborn lambs. The ewes included in the study weredivided into two groups by ultrasound as those carrying a single pregnancy (n=9) and a twin pregnancy (n=9). BodyCondition Scores (BCS) were determined and then their blood samples were taken. The lambs born from these eweswere weighed with precision scales as soon as they were born, and blood samples were taken 24 hours after birth.Mineral substance determination from blood samples was made by ICP-OES, and IgG determination was made byELISA. It was found that serum IgG and mineral matter levels were not affected by twinship in ewes (p>0.05).Calcium (Ca) level was significantly higher in twin lambs compared to single lambs (p<0.05). There was nostatistical difference between single and twin lambs in terms of other minerals and IgG concentrations (P>0.05).Total protein and globulin values were significantly higher in single lambs than twin lambs (P <0.05). It wasdetermined that single-born lambs were significantly heavier than twins (P<0.05), and while male lambs wereheavier than females, the difference between them was not statistically significant (P>0.05). As a result, it wasdetermined that twinship and BCS did not affect the mineral substance, total protein, albumin, globulin and IgGlevels in late pregnant ewes, while twinship in lambs affected lamb birth weight, total protein, globulin and Cavalues, but not other mineral and IgG levels. Significantly low total protein and globulin concentrations in twinlambs suggest that these animals cannot absorb enough colostrum.