Reproductive Performance Improvement in Awassi Ewes by using Ascorbic acid and B-Complex Vitamins During Postpartum Period

Abstract

This study was conducted on 44 Awassi ewes (40 days postpartum period) from Nov. 2014 – July 2015, their ages ranged from 2-4 years old in farm animals of Al-Musiab technical institute/Al-Forat aAl-Awsat University –Babylon province. These animal were divided randomly in to equal 4 groups (11 ewes/groups) dependent on the type of the treatment, 1st group treated by one gm vitamin C daily/orally for 20 days, 2nd group treated by one gm of vitamin B-complex/orally for 20 days, 3rd treaded with mixed one gm vitamin c + one gm vitamin B-complex in the same dose one (gm daily /orally for 20 days also, but the 4th group represented control group (Untreated). All experimented animals exposed to fertile rams (3rams aged 2-4 years) daily after ceased treatment. The response for different treatment (estrous showing) was recorded highly significant different(p<0.01) for 3rd groups (90.9) compared with other groups while the duration of response was 10.26±3.14 days, 16.52±2.,36, 8.24±3.21 and 66.47±11.54 in the 1st,2nd, 3rd and 4th groups respectively with highly significant difference (p<0.01) of 1st and 3rd groups compared with 2nd and 4th groups but the pregnancy rate was recorded 100% in 3rd groups and 87.5%, 85.7% and 87.5% in the 1 st,2nd ,4th groups respectively, while the twining rate in the treated groups was recorded highly significant differences( p<0.01) compared with control groups. While the progesterone and estrogen serum levels significantly (p<0.01) higher in treated groups in compare with control groups . concluded that the using of vitamin C, vitamin B-complex alone or together give significant results for improvement of reproductive performance include response animals (induced estrous) and reduce the duration of response as well as increasing pregnancy and twining rate in Awassi ewes