Response of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation on nutritional, endo-parasitic, and endocrine status in lambs.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of plantain herb (Plantago lanceolata L.) supplementation on growth, plasma metabolites, liver enzymatic activity, hormonal status, gastrointestinal parasites, and carcass characteristics of lambs. A total of 24 lambs, aged 6 months weighing 8.0 ± 0.5 kg were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments: (1) CL diet-roadside grass and concentrate mixture; (2) PL diet-CL diet + 5% fresh plantain supplementation on a DM basis. The PL diet group exhibited 23% higher (P = 0.01) average daily gain and 15% improved (P = 0.03) feed conversion efficiency. Circulating cholesterol concentrations were suppressed by 9% (P = 0.03), and liver enzyme activity was improved by 5-25% (P < 0.05) in the lamb fed PL diet, compared with CL diet only. The inclusion of plantain in the diet was highly effective at suppressing the parasites, Paramphistomum spp. (P = 0.003) and coccidial parasites (P = 0.04), but not stomach worms. Moreover, plantain supplementation increased growth hormone and insulin concentrations in plasma level, whereas decreased carcass fat by 32.7%. Therefore, supplementation of the lambs' diet with plantain showed some beneficial effects on productivity and parasitic infection, while it led to a leaner carcass.

Dietary supplementation of 11 different plant extracts on the antioxidant capacity of blood and selected tissues in lightweight lambs.

BACKGROUND: Due to the growing public concern regarding the addition of chemical antioxidants to foods, focus has shifted towards natural alternatives. Because of their antioxidant potential, culinary herbs and spices have long been used to extend the shelf-life of foods. However, a better understanding of the fate of these products following intake is required to assess their use in lamb diets. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-eight Rasa Aragonesa male lambs (70 days old) were supplemented (5.0 g kg-1 compound feed) with bay, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, cumin, caraway, dill, cinnamon and nutmeg extracts for 14 days before slaughter. Dietary supplementation with plant extracts had no effect on intake, growth performance or antioxidant activity in blood (TEAC values). In muscle, nutmeg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the radical-scavenging capacity (TEAC), whereas a decrease in the radical-scavenging capacity was found for lambs supplemented with oregano, dill, cinnamon and nutmeg (ORAC values). In liver, nutmeg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant capacity (TEAC), whereas bay (ORAC), turmeric, cinnamon and nutmeg (DPPH• values) decreased (P < 0.05) the radical-scavenging capacity of the tissue. In kidney, a lower (P < 0.05) radical-scavenging capacity (TEAC values) was found in lambs supplemented with oregano, cumin and caraway, whereas, turmeric, cumin, caraway, cinnamon and nutmeg increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant capacity (ORAC values) in kidney. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of lamb diets with plant extracts affected radical-scavenging activity in muscle, liver and kidney. However, due to the divergent results of the different assays for the same tissue, it is not advisable to discriminate plant extracts using this approach. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Amino acids profile within peripheral blood and follicular fluid based on high-performance liquid chromatography methods may explain differences in folliculogenesis between short-term under/over-fed treatments during luteal phase of Hu sheep.

The nutritional alteration of amino acids (AAs) profile in physiological fluid was poorly characterized in livestock. After oestrus synchronization, 24 ewes were randomly assigned to two groups based on the nutrient requirement recommended for maintenance (M): the feed-supplemented group (S, 1.5 × M, N = 12) and feed-restricted group (R, 0.5 × M, N = 12) on days 6-12 of their oestrous cycle, which occurred shortly before ovulation. The concentration of 30 AAs in peripheral blood (PB) and follicular fluid (FF) was quantified to calculate the PB-to-FF concentration gap for each AA and determine its correlation with metabolites and hormones in PB and FF. Results showed that the feed restriction enlarged the oestrous cycle length, decreased the number of follicles 2.5-3.5 mm, increased the number of follicles >3.5 mm and augmented the volume of follicles >2.5 mm. Nineteen AAs from PB were significantly different between the groups. The phosphoethanolamine (PEtN) and ration of essential AAs to nonessential AAs (EAA/NEAA) in FF significantly (p < 0.05) increased and decreased in the R group, respectively. Most AAs, except aspartate (Asp) and carnosine (Car) in the R group and alanine (aAla) in both groups, were significantly lower within FF than those within PB. The correlation of AAs with FSH and progesterone (P4 ) was more significant than that of AAs with other endocrine milieu characteristics. In conclusion, our results revealed that the influence of short-term nutritional manipulation during luteal phase on folliculogenesis might not be due to the variation of intrafollicular AAs profile but rather attribute to the peripheral blood AAs profile alteration.

Effect of dietary supplementation with carnosic acid or vitamin E on animal performance, haematological and immunological characteristics of artificially reared suckling lambs before and after road transport.

To elucidate the influence of dietary carnosic acid (CA) and vitamin E on animal performance, immune response indicators and haematological parameters before and after transport stress, 24 lambs were individually fed ad libitum with milk replacer (MR) using an auto-feeder. Once daily the lambs received MR alone (Group CON, n = 8), MR + 0.096 g CA/kg live weight (LW) (Group CARN, n = 8) or MR + 0.024 g of α-tocopheryl acetate per kg LW (Group VitE, n = 8). After reaching the target slaughter weight (12 ± 0.5 kg), blood samples were collected to measure haematological and immunological parameters. Then, lambs were subjected to 4-h road transport and blood samples were collected again for haematological assessment. The animals were subsequently slaughtered. Before road transport, dietary CA supplementation promoted a descent of circulating white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration when compared with Groups CON and VitE (p < 0.05), but it did not affect production of cytokines by blood mononuclear cells. Road transport did not affect either RBC or haematocrit significantly. Nevertheless, transport affected leucocyte profile similarly in all the treatments, increasing granulocytes and monocytes proportions and decreasing lymphocytes. In contrast, after transport, WBC was increased in Group CARN, reaching similar values than Groups CON and VitE. However, under conditions of the present study, those modifications did not influence animal performance or immunity parameters of artificially reared suckling lambs.

A supplement containing multiple types of gluconeogenic substrates alters intake but not productivity of heat-stressed Afshari lambs.

Thirty-two Afshari lambs were used in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate a nutritional supplement designed to provide multiple gluconeogenic precursors during heat stress (HS). Lambs were housed in thermal neutral (TN) conditions and fed ad libitum for 8 d to obtain covariate data (period 1 [P1]) for the subsequent experimental period (period 2 [P2]). During P2, which lasted 9 d, half of the lambs were subjected to HS and the other 16 lambs were maintained in TN conditions but pair fed (PFTN) to the HS lambs. Half of the lambs in each thermal regime were fed (top-dressed) 100 g/d of a feed supplement designed to provide gluconeogenic precursors (8 lambs in HS [heat stress with Glukosa {HSG}] and 8 lambs in PFTN [pair-fed thermal neutral with Glukosa]) and the other lambs in both thermal regimes were fed only the basal control diet (HS without Glukosa [HSC] and pair-fed thermal neutral without Glukosa). Heat stress decreased DMI (14%) and by design there were no differences between the thermal treatments, but HSG lambs had increased DMI (7.5%; < 0.05) compared with the HSC lambs. Compared with PFTN lambs, rectal temperature and skin temperature at the rump, shoulder, and legs of HS lambs were increased ( < 0.05) at 0700 and 1400 h. Rectal temperature at 1400 h decreased for HSG lambs (0.15 ± 0.03°C; < 0.05) compared with HSC lambs. Despite similar DMI between thermal treatments, ADG for HS and PFTN lambs in P2 was decreased 55 and 85%, respectively, compared with lambs in P1 ( < 0.01). Although the prefeeding glucose concentration was not affected by thermal treatment or diet, HSG lambs had increased postfeeding glucose concentration compared with HSC lambs ( < 0.05). In contrast to the glucose responses, circulating insulin was influenced only by thermal treatment; HS lambs had increased insulin concentration ( < 0.01) before feeding and decreased concentration ( < 0.05) after feeding compared with PFTN lambs. Heat-stressed lambs had decreased NEFA concentration before feeding ( < 0.01) but not after feeding relative to PFTN lambs. Although this nutritional strategy did not affect ADG, the lower rectal temperature in HSG lambs indicates that dietary inclusion of a mixture of glucogenic precursors can potentially benefit animal health during HS.

Impact of Brazilian red propolis extract on blood metabolites, milk production, and lamb performance of Santa Inês ewes.

Twenty Santa Inês ewes used to evaluate effects of oral administration of Brazilian red propolis extract on blood metabolites, milk production, and lamb performance were randomly grouped (n = 10 ewes/group) to control without propolis administration and propolis treated (3 g red propolis extract/ewe/day) 21 days before expected lambing date. Blood samples were collected weekly, and daily milk yield was recorded twice weekly until 7 weeks postpartum. Propolis administration increased (P < 0.05) total leukocyte counts, protein, and globulin and glucose concentrations, decreased (P < 0.05) somatic cell counts, and enhanced (P < 0.05) yields of milk, fat, protein, and lactose. Propolis supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain and milk conversion ratio but had no effect on lamb birth and weaning weights. The prepartum administration of propolis extract supported positively the transition of ewes from pregnancy to lactation with health benefits achieved for both of ewes and lambs performances.

Changes in hematology, serum biochemistry, and gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs fed sericea lespedeza with or without dietary sodium molybdate.

Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) is a legume rich in condensed tannins that can be grazed or fed to small ruminants for parasite control. Condensed tannins, a secondary plant compound in SL, may lead to unintended consequences such as changes in production. In our preliminary research, there was consistently a reduction in serum and liver concentrations of Mo. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SL with or without Mo supplementation on changes in BW, hematology, and serum biochemistry in lambs. Thirty ram lambs weaned in May (84 ± 1.5 d of age; 27 ± 1.1 kg) were blocked by BW, breed type (full or three-fourths Katahdin), and EBV of parasite resistance and randomly assigned to be fed 900 g of alfalfa-based supplement (CON; n = 10) or SL-based supplement (n = 20) for 103 d. Supplements were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric and to meet trace mineral requirements. Within the SL diet, half of the lambs received 490 mg sodium molybdate weekly (SLMO). Body condition scores and BW were determined every 14 d and blood and feces collected to determine hematological and serum biochemical profiles and fecal egg counts (FEC). Data were analyzed using a mixed model with repeated measures and orthogonal contrasts. The white blood cell counts tended to be reduced in SL- and SLMO-fed lambs compared with CON-fed lambs (P < 0.06), which was associated with a reduction in neutrophils (P < 0.001). Red blood cell counts were also reduced in SL but not SLMO lambs compared with CON lambs (P < 0.04). There was a reduction in blood packed cell volume (P < 0.04) and serum concentrations of albumin (P < 0.001) and creatinine (P < 0.02) in both SL and SLMO lambs compared with CON lambs. Similarly, concentrations of blood urea nitrogen were reduced in both SL and SLMO lambs, but differences among dietary treatments disappeared after 42 d of feeding (treatment × day, P < 0.004). Serum concentrations of total proteins were reduced only in SLMO lambs compared with other lambs (P < 0.001). Body weight and FEC were similar among dietary treatments. Means of all measurements were within a normal range, even though there were subtle but significant differences between dietary groups. Feeding a diet high in condensed tannin-rich SL did not lead to serious effects on hematology or serum biochemistry in lambs.

Effect of transport on blood selenium and glutathione status in feeder lambs.

Stress from transport may be linked to increased generation of reactive oxygen species, the removal of which requires reduced glutathione and selenium. The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of transport on glutathione and Se status of feeder lambs. Recently weaned lambs (n = 40) were blocked by gender and BW on d 0 of the experiment and randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: group 1, no transport and full access to feed and water (control), and group 2, 8-h road transport followed by another 16 h of feed deprivation (transport). After 24 h, both treatment groups were treated the same. All lambs were weighed, and blood samples were collected at 0, 8, 24, and 72 h and analyzed for whole-blood (WB) and serum Se concentrations, serum NEFA concentrations, and erythrocyte concentrations of glutathione. Transport of feeder lambs for 8 h followed by another 16 h of feed deprivation transiently (significant at 24 h but no longer different at 72 h) decreased BW and erythrocyte glutathione concentrations and increased serum NEFA and blood Se concentrations compared with control lambs. Our results suggest that 8 h of transport followed by another 16 h of feed deprivation results in fatty acid and Se mobilization from tissue stores with a coincident decrease in erythrocyte glutathione concentrations.

The effect of rivastigmine on the LPS-induced suppression of GnRH/LH secretion during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle in ewes.

This study was designed to determine the effect of a potent subcutaneously injected acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, rivastigmine (6mg/animal), on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) release during inflammation induced by an intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (400ng/kg) injection in ewes during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. The results are expressed as the mean values from -2 to -0.5h before and +1 to +3h after treatment. Rivastigmine decreased the acetylcholinesterase concentration in the blood plasma from 176.9±9.5 to 99.3±15.1µmol/min/ml. Endotoxin suppressed LH (5.4±0.6ng/ml) and GnRH (4.6±0.4pg/ml) release; however, the rivastigmine injection restored the LH concentration (7.8±0.8ng/ml) to the control value (7.8±0.7ng/ml) and stimulated GnRH release (7.6±0.8pg/ml) compared to the control (5.9±0.4pg/ml). Immune stress decreased expression of the GnRH gene and its receptor (GnRH-R) in the median eminence as well as LHß and GnRH-R in the pituitary. In the case of the GnRH and LHß genes, the suppressive effect of inflammation was negated by rivastigmine. LPS stimulated cortisol and prolactin release (71.1±14.7 and 217.1±8.0ng/ml) compared to the control group (9.0±5.4 and 21.3±3.5ng/ml). Rivastigmine also showed a moderating effect on cortisol and prolactin secretion (43.1±13.1 and 169.7±29.5ng/ml). The present study shows that LPS-induced decreases in GnRH and LH can be reduced by the AChE inhibitor. This action of the AChE inhibitor could result from the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine release and the attenuation of the stress response. However, a direct stimulatory effect of ACh on GnRH/LH secretion should also be considered.

Effect of feed flushing during summer season on growth, reproductive performance and blood metabolites in Malpura ewes under semiarid tropical environment.

Feed scarcity during hot summer months is one of the major predisposing factors for low reproductive efficiency of livestock reared in hot semiarid environment. A study was conducted to assess the effect of concentrate supplementation during summer months on growth, reproductive performance, and blood metabolites in Malpura ewes. Twenty adult Malpura ewes were used in the present study. The ewes were divided into two groups viz, group 1 (n = 10; control) and group 2 (n = 10; concentrate supplementation). The study was conducted for a period of 35 days covering two estrus cycles. In the first cycle, only PGF(2α) was given to all ewes, while in second cycle, all ewes were synchronized for estrus using progesterone-impregnated intravaginal sponges and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin. The animals were allowed for grazing for 8-10 h per day. Apart from grazing, group 2 ewes were supplemented with concentrate mixture at 1.5 % of body weight. Concentrate supplementation had significant influence on body weight, ADG, estrus percentage, estrus duration, onset of estrus, ovulation response, plasma glucose, total protein, and urea. The present study reveals that ewes supplemented with concentrate mixture at 1.5 % of body weights during summer season significantly influenced the growth and reproductive performance of Malpura ewes. Further, the study signifies the importance of providing additional feed supplementation to ewes kept grazing under the conditions of a hot, semiarid environment to improve their reproductive efficiency.

Effects of different levels of dietary sulfur and molybdenum on concentrations of copper and other elements in plasma and liver of lambs fed palm kernel cake diets.

A 6-month experiment with nine dietary treatments was conducted to determine amounts of S plus Mo supplements required to maintain normal hepatic concentrations of Cu and Mo and to prevent chronic Cu toxicity in lambs fed palm kernel cake (PKC) diets. All diets consisted of PKC supplemented with minerals and vitamins, and with appropriate amounts per kg DM of S (level 0 or level 1 = 1 g) as sodium sulfate and/or Mo (level 0; level 1 = 4 mg; level 2 = 8 mg; level 3 = 16 mg; level 4 = 32 mg) as ammonium molybdate to form treatments S0Mo1, S0Mo2, S0Mo3, S0Mo4, S1Mo0, S1Mo1, S1Mo2, S1Mo3 and S1Mo4.There was no effect (P>0·05) of dietary treatments on the growth performance of the lambs. The dietary supplement of 1 g S plus 8 mg Mo per kg dietary DM (treatment S1Mo2) prevented accumulation of Cu in the liver without elevation of the concentration of Mo (P>0·05). The treatments S0Mo1, S0Mo2 and S0Mo3 increased (P < 0·05) hepatic Cu concentrations from 376 µg/g DM to between 1090 and 1294 µg/g DM. Also, the treatments S1Mo3 and S1Mo4 resulted in higher (P < 0·05) hepatic Mo concentrations compared with the treatment S1Mo0. It was concluded that the dietary supplement of 1 g S plus 8 mg Mo/kg PKC DM added to the PKC used is sufficient to maintain normal hepatic concentrations of Cu and Mo and to prevent chronic Cu toxicity in sheep fed diets containing any amount of PKC.

Blood parameters in female Zandi lambs as affected by liver biopsy methodology.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the normal blood parameters of Iranian fat-tailed sheep (Zandi) and their changes due to rapid liver biopsy technique with a tru-cut biopsy needle. In ten ewe lambs, blood samples were collected from jugular vein and biopsy needle was inserted through the dorsal one third of the 11th intercostal space, on the right hand side of the lambs and liver specimen was collected. Physical examinations were performed on alternate days during the experiment. Blood collection was done on both before (day 1) and after (day 17) the biopsy. All animals were slaughtered at day 17. Values were compared using paired t test. While biopsy did not make any significant changes in mean values of body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, PCV, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, monocyte, total serum protein, AST, ALT, and serum calcium (p > 0.05), it made a significant difference on the values of ALP (p < 0.001), serum inorganic phosphate (p = 0.035), and magnesium (p = 0.013). Necropsy examination revealed the points of hitting the biopsy needles on the diaphragmatic surface of the livers, surrounded by a zone of intense hyperemia. Peritoneal adhesions accompanying with typical strands of fibrous connective tissue between diaphragmatic surface of the liver and adjacent abdominal wall were found in two cases.