Effect of propylene glycol on pre- and post-partum performance by dairy ewes

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects, after feeding propylene glycol to Valle del Belice ewes 30 days prepartum and 30 days postpartum, on metabolic profiles, body-condition score, milk yield, milk composition, milk clotting ability and the performance of suckling lambs. Ewes were blocked by parity, body-condition score and previous milk production, and assigned randomly to either a control diet or a diet containing propylene glycol fed at the rate of 80 g/ewe/day (low PG) or 160 g/ewe/day (high PG). Feeding propylene glycol prepartum decreased the concentration of BHBA and NEFA and increased the concentration of glucose in the ewes’ plasma. Milk yield from ewes fed …