EFFECTS OF DIETARY MANGANESE LEVELS ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF EWES AND ON TISSUE MINERAL COMPOSITION OF EWES AND DAY-OLD LAMBS

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Abstract
Two groups of eight 2-yr-old ewes were fed a low manganese (Mn) synthetic diet (8 ppm Mn) either with or without Mn supplementation (60 ppm Mn). The diets were fed for a 5-mo period prior to breeding and throughout gestation. Manganese supplementation of the diet resulted in higher blood Mn concentration. More services per conception were required for the ewes fed the low Mn diet than were required for the ewes fed the Mn-supplemented diet. The calcium content of kidney and muscle tissues, the magnesium content of spleen and the zinc content of the heart were found to be lower in ewes fed supplemental Mn, while the zinc content of the spleen was found to be higher. The calcium levels in the heart and kidney and iron levels in the liver and lung were higher in the day-old lambs born to Mn-supplemented ewes, while the magnesium level in the heart was lower. It is suggested that the calcium response of the ewes on low Mn diet to the physiological demands of fetal development may have been impaired by a reduction in dietary Mn.