The influence of using vitamin E in flushing diet on reproductive performance of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of using vitamin E in the flushing diet on reproductive performance of Lori-Bakhtiari ewes. Two hundred healthy and non-lactating Lori-Bakhtiari ewes with an average live body weight 57.5±6.7 kg and 2-7 years of age, reared in the rural (n=100) and the nomadic (n=100) system, were studied. Ewes in each flock were randomly assigned to two diets. Diets contained basal diet plus 250 g/ewe barley grains (control) or basal diet plus 250 g/ewe barley grains plus 500 IU vitamin E. The feeding regimens started from 2 weeks before lasted to 3 weeks after ram introduction. Data for weight and body condition score of ewes at mating; conception rate, lambing and prolificacy were collected and analyzed by GLM procedure of SAS. Treatments did not affect the overall conception, lambing and prolificacy rates (P>0.05); however, these traits for the vitamin E group were numerically higher than the control group. Conception rate during first 21 days after ram introduction, and the majority of the ewes which had lambed during the first 21 days, were significantly higher (P0.05). Overall conception rate was lower for ewes with 2.5 body condition score (P