Oorsig/Review
Ewe and lamb
nutrition
Trace minerals essential to ewe and lamb
performance
Trace minerals play a vital role in animal nutrition,
impacting numerous metabolic functions, including growth
and development, reproduction, and immunity. In addition,
research shows that the negative effects of stress are
reduced when animals receive proper trace mineral nutrition.
Following is an overview of the role zinc plays in ewe
and lamb nutrition.
30
65.4
Zn
Zinc
Skeletal growth/development
Î Protein synthesis for bone growth and
repair.
Muscle growth/development
Î Protein synthesis to support muscle
growth and development.
Wool
Î Epithelial tissue integrity to support wool
growth and strength.
Immunity
Î Antioxidant activity to protect cellular
tissue.
Î Immune response.
Reproduction
Î Reproductive tract tissue integrity.
Î Improved conception rates.
Hoof condition
Î Synthesis and support of quality hoof
growth and repair.
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Research-proven performance
Feeding zinc from Zinpro Performance Minerals® (ZPM) to
ewes offers the following research-proven benefits:
Î decreased foot lesions;
Î increased lamb weight gain;
Î increased dry matter intake; and
Î improved colostrum quality.
In addition, the trace mineral status of the ewe has been
shown to be important for foetal development, and
subsequent performance of the ewe and her progeny
following lambing.