Investigation of relationship between vitamin D status and reproductive fitness in Scottish hill sheep

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 1162
• Main Authors: Zhou, Ping, McEvoy, Thomas G., Gill, Andrew C., Lambe, Nicola R., Morgan-Davies, Claire R., Hurst, Emma, Sargison, Neil D., Mellanby, Richard J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 04.02.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; 631/158/2456; 631/208/1348; 631/208/8; Birth weight; Genotypes; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vitamin D
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37843-6

There is a growing interest in the influence of vitamin D on ovine non-skeletal health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pre-mating vitamin D status, as assessed by serum concentrations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D; comprising D 2 and D 3 ] and subsequent reproductive performance of genetically unimproved Scottish Blackface (UBF), genetically improved Scottish Blackface (IBF) and Lleyn ewes kept under Scottish hill conditions. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 (25(OH)D 2 ) and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3 ) concentrations were determined in serum samples harvested in November from ewes grazed outdoors. There were no significant differences in 25(OH)D 2 concentrations amongst the 3 genotypes. Lleyn ewes had significantly higher 25(OH)D 3 and 25(OH)D concentrations than both Scottish Blackface ewe genotypes, whereas these vitamin D parameters did not differ significantly between the UBF and IBF ewes. Concentrations of 25(OH)D 3 and 25(OH)D were positively associated with subsequent birth weights of singleton and of twin lamb litters. No significant associations between vitamin D status and number of lambs born or weaned per ewe were found. This study demonstrates that concentrations of cutaneously-derived 25(OH)D 3, but not of orally consumed 25(OH)D 2 , differed between breeds. The positive association between ewe vitamin D status and offspring birth weight highlights the need for further investigations.