Determining the Effects of Pelleted Cranberry Vine Grains on the Ewe and Offspring during Pregnancy and Lactation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Parasitic infections are a significant problem in the sheep and goat industries worldwide. This issue is compounded by parasites becoming resistant to commercially available dewormers. Currently, the efficacy of tannins and other plant secondary compounds is being evaluated as natural dewormers in sheep and goats. The main objective of this study was to determine if cranberry vine was safe to feed pregnant and lactating ewes. The results of this study indicate that there were minimal effects on the growth and health of the ewe and her offspring from the consumption of a 50% cranberry vine pellet during late gestation and lactation. ABSTRACT: When creating any new anti-parasitic interventions, it is important to evaluate their effects across all life stages. This study had three objectives, which were to evaluate the effect of feeding cranberry vine pellet (CVP) on (1) ewes’ body weights and BCS during late gestation and lactation; (2) ewes’ milk quality during lactation; and (3) lambs’ body weight and growth parameters from birth to 65 days of age. Across two years, 41 Dorset ewes were fed either a 50% CVP or a matching control pellet (CON) from 104 ± 1.60 days of gestation for 62.8 ± 0.68 days of lactation. Measurements were collected from ewes (BW, BCS, and milk) and lambs (BW and body size). Milk from CVP ewes exhibited reduced milk fat and solids (p < 0.01) and increased concentrations of milk urea nitrogen (p = 0.02) when evaluated for the treatment–time. There was no significant difference in the BCS, protein, lamb BW, or growth measurements for treatment–time (p ≥ 0.05). Additional research that targets blood biochemistry and metabolic assessments is needed to fully determine the impact of this pellet on ewes and lambs.