Microencapsulated herbal components in the diet of Lacaune ewes: impacts on physiology and milk production and quality.

This study aimed to determine whether the addition of a microencapsulated herbal blend (MHB) based on thymol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde in dairy sheep feed would improve production efficiency, milk quality, and animal health. Thirty lactating Lacaune ewes were divided into three groups: Control (T0), 150 mg blend/kg of feed (T150), and 250 mg blend/kg of feed (T250). Milk was measured before the beginning of the experiment (d 0), at the end of the adaptation period (d 15), and during the experiment (d 20). In milk samples, was measured the composition, somatic cell count (SCC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipoperoxidation (LPO), and total antioxidant capacity. The MHB improved the milk production (only T150 vs. T0 sheep on d 20), productive efficiency and feed efficiency, and reduced the milk SCC (only T250 vs. T0 sheep, on d 20), ROS and tended to reduce the milk levels of LPO (only T250 vs. T0 sheep on d 20). Also, MHB reduced the blood levels of neutrophils and ROS (only T250 vs. T0 sheep on d 20) and increased total protein and globulin levels. Thus, a microencapsulated blend of thymol, carvacrol, and cinnamaldehyde improved the productive performance and milk quality of sheep.

Different protocols for piglet creep feeding in the farrowing stage and residual effects in the nursery phase.

This study was aimed at the effects of different Creep-feeding protocols on piglet performance and its residual effects during the nursery phase. Experimental design used was five groups: WC (without creep); DCF (dry creep feeding); WCF (wet creep feeding); LD (additional liquid creep with automatic feed dispenser plus DCF); and LLF (additional liquid creep with linear feeder plus DCF). Ten litters per treatment were selected a total 50 sows and 645 piglets. During the first two weeks of lactation, the LD treatment (2.61 and 4.20 kg) promoted greater body weight (P <0.001) than the DCF (2.55 and 3.93 kg), (WFS) (2.43 and 3.69 kg) and LLF (2.50 and 4.00 kg) treatments, but did not differ from the WC treatment (2.68 and 4.09 kg). At weaning, the WC (5.22 kg), LD (5.32 kg) and LLF (5.27 kg) treatments gave higher body weights (P <0.001) when compared to the DCF (4.97 kg) and WCF (4.69 kg) treatments. We concluded that there was no change in the behavior of the piglets, and the use of dry feed with liquid supplements did not improve weight gain. The different creep feeding systems did not influence the weight and performance of the piglets in the nursery phase.

Effect of dietary supplementation with grape residue flour on weight gain, metabolic profile, leukogram, proteinogram and antioxidant response in suckling lambs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of grape residue flour (GRF) in the diet of suckling lambs would improve their health and consequently enhance their growth. We used 48 lambs, 30 days of age divided into four treatments with four repetitions each, with each repetition consisting of three animals. The groups were identified as follows: G-0%, used as a control (without GRF) and G-0.5%, G-1% and G-2% referring to treatment with grape residue flour in doses of 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of inclusion in the concentrate, respectively. Lambs in groups G-1% and G-2% had higher final body weights, weight gain and average daily gain (ADG) compared to the other groups. GRF dietary supplementation had good antioxidant potential, being able to stimulate glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and consequently reduce levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lambs that consumed the highest dose of GRF (G-2%). GRF supplementation improved humoral responses, with increased serum levels of heavy-chain and light-chain immunoglobulins; however, there was a reduction in serum ceruloplasmin levels in these lambs. We observed higher concentrations of glucose and triglycerides in lambs in the 2% group. There were lower lymphocyte counts in lambs that received GRF. Lambs supplemented with the highest doses of GRF (G-1% and G-2%) had lower total bacterial counts in the feces. We conclude that the use of GRF in the supplementation of suckling lambs improved animal health, as it stimulated the antioxidant and immune systems and consequently favored their growth.

Dietary supplementation with curcumin-loaded nanocapsules in lambs: Nanotechnology as a new tool for nutrition.

Curcumin-containing nanocapsule powder formulations have not been used in ruminant feed to date, despite the fact that curcumin is known to be a functional food additive. The objective of this study was to determine whether ethyl polymethacrylate (Eudragit L-100) nanocapsules loaded with curcumin (N-CU) would improve health and growth of lambs. Thirty-two male Lacaune lambs (body weight [BW] = 16 ± 0.99 kg; 45 d of age) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: T0, T1, T2 and T4, representing supplementation of curcumin at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg concentrate, respectively. The animals in each treatment were allocated in 4 pens of 2 lambs each (8 lambs per treatment). The experiment lasted 17 d, with samples and measurements collected on d 0, 7, 12, and 17. The T2 lambs had greater average daily gain than T0 lambs. Regression analysis showed that the ideal dose of N-CU to enhance weight gain was 1.89 mg/kg concentrate. There were significant interactions (P < 0.05) between treatments × time for hematological variables, particularly for increases in erythrocytes (T2) and reductions in counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in T1 and T2. There were significant interactions between treatment × time for total protein, globulin, urea, and triglyceride levels. Stimulation of the antioxidant system was also observed. There were increased levels of non-protein thiols (NPSH), as well as increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the supplemented animals. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were lower in the serum of supplemented lambs. In general, the 4 mg/kg dose had no positive effects on growth or health. This was an unexpected result, given the known properties of curcumin. Taken together, these findings suggest that addition of low concentrations of nanoencapsulated curcumin (T1 and T2) in lamb feed improves health, minimizing oxidative stress and generates anti-inflammatory effects that may have contributed indirectly to greater weight gain. Nanocapsules potentiate the effects of curcumin and may emerge as a new tool in animal nutrition.

Positive effects of biocholine powder dietary supplementation on milk production and quality, and antioxidant responses in lactating ewes: A new nutritional tool.

We determined whether the dietary supplementation with a commercial product (vegetable biocholine - VB) for Lacaune ewes at peak lactation would improve animal health and production as well as milk quality. We also determined the effects of VB as a feed additive. We used thirty Lacaune ewes at 30 days of lactation, allocated into three groups: T0 (control, without VB), T5 (5 g of VB/animal/day) and T10 (10 g of VB/animal/day). T10 sheep had greater milk yield during the experimental period. T10 ewes had also a significantly lower feed conversion ratio than the other groups. Total solids concentration of milk was higher in T10 than in the other groups on day 20. The somatic cell count in milk was lower in ewes that consumed VB in the highest dose (T10) than in the T0 and T5 in days 15 and 20. Lower levels of lipoperoxidation (LPO) and of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed in milk from ewes fed with the VB supplemented diet on day 20, associated with increased levels of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity in milk. In serum, we found that T5 and T10 animals had significantly higher levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (non-protein thiols) associated with reduced LPO and ROS content. Higher levels of globulins were observed in T10 than in T0 sheep on day 20. These data suggest that VB dietary supplementation stimulates antioxidant responses and increases the concentration of globulins in a manner beneficial to sheep health. Milk production, feed conversion rate, and milk SCC were also improved.

Effects of biocholine powder supplementation in ewe lambs: Growth, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status, and metabolism.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biocholine powder (BP) added to the concentrate of ewe lambs on growth, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status, and metabolism. Forty-eight Lacaune lambs were divided 3 treatments: T0, T4, and T8, representing 0, 4, and 8 g of BP per animal/day added to the concentrate, respectively. The T4 and T8 lambs had greater average daily gain from d 0-75 (0.22, 0.25, and 0.26 kg/d for T0, T4 and T8, respectively). T4 and T8 lambs had higher methylene blue test results (indicating microbiological activity), and the higher effects were detected for T8 lambs. The BP in lamb's diet increased the ruminal concentration of propionate (T4 and T8). The T8 lambs had greater serum activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase, and lower reactive oxygen species levels. We conclude that BP is a biotechnological additive with high nutritional potential.