Effects of nutrient deficiency on reproductive disorders in sheep

Mutton is tender, delicious and rich in nutrients, so it is a good tonic in winter. When you eat mutton in winter, you can receive the dual effects of tonic and cold prevention. With people's understanding of mutton and the increasing demand for mutton, the production and breeding of mutton sheep is particularly important, especially the reproductive ability of mutton sheep directly affects the development of sheep industry. Below, the author mainly talks about the effect of lack of nutrients on reproductive disorders in sheep.

Carbohydrates. It is the main component of animal rations. If the dietary energy level of ewes is high before and after estrus, the ovulation rate can be increased and there is no adverse effect on the survival of embryos in the early stage of pregnancy. However, if the ewe gains weight too quickly or consumes too much energy, the conception interval will be prolonged. In order to improve reproductive performance, postpartum ewes should be provided with higher energy to avoid excessive weightlessness, but the energy intake should be gradually increased, otherwise it will lead to obesity.

Protein. Protein deficiency can cause delayed ovulation and prolonged empty pregnancy in ewes during proestrus. The high level of protein also has a negative effect on fertility. In addition, feeding high-protein feed to increase the content of ammonia in the rumen will have a toxic effect on embryos and may also have other adverse effects on fertility.

Vitamins. There are three main sources of vitamins for sheep: first, intake from diet, second, tissue synthesis of various vitamins, and third, vitamins synthesized by rumen microorganisms. Lead to vitamin deficiency: first, the vitamin is lost because the feed is stored for too long, and the other is long-term house feeding or sheep are in a state of stress for a long time, resulting in the reduction of vitamins synthesized by their tissues. For example, vitamin An is essential for the normal development of animal epithelial cells, but if it is deficient, it will affect fecundity to some extent, such as delayed estrus, miscarriage or loss of birth, blindness or ataxia in newborn lambs, placenta retention, high incidence, placental keratosis, increased incidence of uterine inflammation, decreased sexual desire and testicular atrophy. The number of sperm in the convoluted seminiferous tubule decreased and the ovarian function of the ewe decreased. For β-carotene, it has been found that deficiency of β-carotene and adequate vitamin A can cause decrease of liver ketone content, delayed ovulation, decreased intensity of estrus, ovarian cyst, increased incidence, delayed involution of uterus, prolonged recovery of postpartum ovarian function and increased early embryonic mortality. Vitamin D deficiency can easily lead to delayed estrus. Vitamin E and selenium are important antioxidants, but the mechanism of their action in reproduction is not clear. It has been reported that vitamin E deficiency can cause congenital malformations in lambs.

Lack or imbalance of minerals. This condition can cause infertility in sheep. Calcium indirectly affects reproduction. Phosphorus is involved in energy metabolism, bone development and milk production, so it is closely related to reproduction. Selenium deficiency mainly leads to the decrease of fertility. Iodine is involved in the synthesis of thyroxine, so it affects the reproduction of sheep through thyroxine synthesis.