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Pre-Partum Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Colostrum Characteristics and Lamb Immunity and Behavior after a Mild Post-Weaning Aversive Handling Period.

ABSTRACT: We studied the effect of pre-natal supplementation with n-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) combined with a tannin-rich forage on colostrum composition and immunological quality and whether these changes had advantageous effects on lambs' survival and stress reaction to a post-weaning stressor. Forty-eight Latxa ewes were fed during the last five weeks of pregnancy with two experimental diets: a control diet based on a neutral concentrate and forage (tall fescue hay; CO-FES), and a supplemented diet based on polyunsaturated (PUFA)-rich concentrate and tanniferous forage (sainfoin; ALA-SAIN). After parturition, twenty ewes had their blood and colostrum sampled, and their lambs were monitored until post-weaning. Lambs were afterwards subjected to (i) an aversive handling period (AHP) followed by a behavioral assessment and (ii) inflammatory and lymphocyte proliferation challenge. Feeding ALA-SAIN resulted in changes in colostrum fatty acid composition, specifically higher α-linoleic acid (p < 0.001), conjugate linoleic acid (p = 0.005), vaccenic acid (p = 0.006) and long-chain n-3 PUFA (p = 0.004). Pre-partum nutrition did not affect lamb immunoglobulin (Ig) G apparent efficacy absorption, but circulating IgG tended to be higher (p = 0.054) in ALA-SAIN lambs. ALA-SAIN lambs interacted more frequently with other lambs (p = 0.002), whereas ALA-SAIN females spent more time closer to other lambs (p < 0.001). Plasma cortisol was higher (p = 0.047) and plasma interleukin (IL)-2 lower (p = 0.003) in CO-FES lambs. This research highlights the importance of prenatal nutrition on the immune system stimulation and lambs' behavior as a strategy to improve lambs' health and welfare during early life.

SUBMITTER: Averos X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9311828 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Calves may experience increased oxidative stress at birth through activation of metabolic and respiratory processes. Reducing oxidative stress may enhance calf viability in early life. Our objective was to determine the dose response to fish and flaxseed oil when supplemented in colostrum on concentrations of plasma fatty acid (FA), FA metabolites, and index of oxidative stress during the critical first week of life in calves to understand how supplementing n-3 FA may decrease oxidative stress. We hypothesized that n-3 FA supplemented in colostrum in a linear dose-dependent fashion would associate with increased plasma n-3 FA concentrations and decreased oxidative stress. Twenty-four male and female Holstein calves were randomly assigned to receive 0, 30, 60, or 120 mL of a 1:1 fish to flaxseed oil supplement in colostrum. All calves received 2.8 L of previously frozen colostrum (≥22% Brix) with their respective treatment within 6 h after birth. Blood was sampled before first feeding after birth and on d 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14 d of age to assess oxidant status and plasma free PUFA, phospholipid FA, and oxylipid concentrations. Health indicators were observed daily. Indicators of general health and growth were unaffected by treatment. Supplemented calves exhibited greater concentrations of n-3 FA in plasma as free and phospholipid FA and some n-3 and n-6 FA-derived oxylipids in the first week of life in a linear fashion with increasing supplemental dose. Fish and flaxseed oil treatments did not alter oxidant status but overall decreased isoprostane concentrations in plasma, indicating oxidative stress was decreased. Together, these responses indicate that the fish and flaxseed oil supplement was antiinflammatory. In conclusion, supplementing colostrum with 30, 60, and 120 mL of a 1:1 mixture of fish and flaxseed oil linearly increased plasma concentrations of n-3 FA and metabolites and decreased biomarkers of oxidative stress, but did not alter oxidant status or affect health or growth. Our findings suggest neonatal calves may benefit from n-3 FA supplementation in colostrum to encourage a greater antiinflammatory state.

Project description:BackgroundTo improve our understanding of host and intestinal microbiome interaction, this research investigated the effects of a high-level zinc oxide in the diet as model intervention on the intestinal microbiome and small intestinal functionality in clinically healthy post-weaning piglets. In study 1, piglets received either a high concentration of zinc (Zn) as zinc oxide (ZnO, Zn, 2,690 mg/kg) or a low Zn concentration (100 mg/kg) in the diet during the post weaning period (d 14-23). The effects on the piglet's small intestinal microbiome and functionality of intestinal tissue were investigated. In study 2, the impact of timing of the dietary zinc intervention was investigated, i.e., between d 0-14 and/or d 14-23 post weaning, and the consecutive effects on the piglet's intestinal functionality, here referring to microbiota composition and diversity and gene expression profiles.ResultsDifferences in the small intestinal functionality were observed during the post weaning period between piglets receiving a diet with a low or high concentration ZnO content. A shift in the microbiota composition in the small intestine was observed that could be characterized as a non-pathological change, where mainly the commensals inter-changed. In the immediate post weaning period, i.e., d 0-14, the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in intestinal tissue were observed between animals receiving a diet with a low or high concentration ZnO content, i.e., 23 DEGs in jejunal tissue and 11 DEGs in ileal tissue. These genes are involved in biological processes related to immunity and inflammatory responses. For example, genes CD59 and REG3G were downregulated in the animals receiving a diet with a high concentration ZnO content compared to low ZnO content in both jejunum and ileum tissue. In the second study, a similar result was obtained regarding the expression of genes in intestinal tissue related to immune pathways when comparing piglets receiving a diet with a high concentration ZnO content compared to low ZnO content.ConclusionsSupplementing a diet with a pharmaceutical level of Zn as ZnO for clinically healthy post weaning piglets influences various aspects intestinal functionality, in particular in the first two weeks post-weaning. The model intervention increased both the alpha diversity of the intestinal microbiome and the expression of a limited number of genes linked to the local immune system in intestinal tissue. The effects do not seem related to a direct antimicrobial effect of ZnO.

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Pre-Partum Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Colostrum Characteristics and Lamb Immunity and Behavior after a Mild Post-Weaning Aversive Handling Period.

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