Blood parameters of growing lambs sons of supplemented sheep with increasing levels of propylene glycol

Abstract

It was evaluated the effect of propylene glycol (PG) supplementation in lactating ewes on the metabolites parameters of young lambs until weaning. Were evaluated 24 lambs, sons of sheep that were fed levels of propylene glycol (PG) in water. The ewes were allocated on 4 treatments (0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% PG) in a completely randomized split plot design. Interaction effect was found between inclusion levels of PG in water and the evaluation period (lamb age) for cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein), triglycerides, VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), fructosamine, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) concentrations. The inclusion of PG and the evaluation period (lamb age) affects the concentration of energy metabolites. The use of PG in lactating ewes does not provide adverse effects on blood parameters of lambs. The concentration of AST, GGT and AP within the normal range indicates that lambs of sheep fed with PG did not develop hepatic lesion. The inclusion of PG above 2.5% causes toxicity in lactating ewes.