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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.

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

Bee honey has beneficial properties that are recognized worldwide, including high nutritional value. The objective of this study was to determine whether a daily dose of honey would improve productive performance as well as energy, protein, and lipid metabolisms in lactating lambs. Bee honey (from Apis mellifera) was offered orally for the first 7 days of the animals’ lives. Twenty Lacaune lambs were used, allocated to two groups: group C, lambs not supplemented with honey, and group T, consisting of lambs fed daily doses of 10 mL of honey. The experimental period lasted 45 days. Body weight measurements and blood sample collections were performed at five time points (days 1, 7, 15, 30, and 45 of life). The lambs that consumed honey showed significantly greater weight gain during the experimental period; there was greater weight gain between days of life 30 and 45. We found significantly higher levels of urea (days 30 and 45) and globulins (day 45). Carbohydrate (glucose), lipid (triglycerides and cholesterol), and protein (total protein and albumin) levels did not differ between treatments. Based on these preliminary results, we conclude that supplementation with honey in the lamb diets may stimulate growth in during lactating phase.

The present study aimed to determine whether the inclusion of a mixture based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae lysate, zeolite, silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, Carduus marianus extract, soy lecithin, and carbonate in the piglet diet would be able to minimize the negative effects caused by feed with aflatoxin; a study focusing on animal health and performance. Seventy-two entire male piglets (7.35 ± 1.17 kg) weaned with an average of 26 days were used, allotted into four groups, with six repetitions (pens) per group and three piglets/pen. The treatments were as follows: NoAfla-NoAntiMyc - negative control (without aflatoxin); Afla-NoAntiMyc - positive control (500 ppb of aflatoxin); NoAfla-AntiMyc - 1000 mg/kg of anti-mycotoxin mixture; Afla-AntiMyc - 500 ppb aflatoxin + 1000 mg/kg anti-mycotoxin. We evaluated the performance (feed intake - FI, weight gain - WG and feed:gain ratio- FGR) andblood variables (10 days between samples). On day 32, six pigs from each group (a total of 24 pigs) were slaughtered to collect fragments of the liver, intestine, and spleen for analysis of oxidants/antioxidants and histology. It was observed that piglets in the positive control group (Afla-NoAntiMyc) had lower body weight and weight gain when compared to the other groups during the experimental period. Also, piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc consumed less feed between days 1 to 20 and 1 to 30 compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc. A considerable increase in liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the piglets' serum of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to other treatments, which indicates that the anti-aflatoxin blend worked. Fewer neutrophils and an increase in monocyte were observed in the piglets of Afla-NoAntiMyc compared to NoAfla-NoAntiMyc; changes that were not seen in the animals of Afla-AntiMyc. We did not see any change in the oxidant and antioxidant status in the piglet serum during the experimental period; different from what happened in Afla-NoAntiMyc piglets in the liver (higher glutathione reductase activity and levels of reactive oxygen species - ROS), in the spleen (higher levels of ROS) and the intestine/jejunum (reduction of nitrate/nitrite levels - NOx). Intestinal morphometry revealed that piglets from Afla-NoAntiMyc had higher villus height than the other groups, while the folded size was smaller in this group. The crypt depth was greater in the intestine of piglets in both treatments that consumed aflatoxin. In general, it is concluded that the consumption of aflatoxin B1 by piglets has negative impacts on the health and, consequently, the animals' performance; however, supplementation of the contaminated feed with an anti-mycotoxin blend was able to protect the piglets, minimizing the negative problems caused by the mycotoxin.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of silymarin in broiler feed was able to mitigate the adverse effects of mycotoxin on growth performance, health status, liver oxidative stress, and meat fatty acid profiles. A completely randomized design with four treatments, four repetitions, and 15 chicks per repetition was used, with the following groups: (a) feed without additives (NoMyc-NoSil), (b) feed supplemented with silymarin (NoMyc-Sil), (c) feed contaminated with mycotoxin (Myc-NoSil), and (d) feed contaminated with mycotoxin and supplemented with silymarin (Myc-Sil). Growth performance, intestinal and liver health, and meat quality were assessed. The consumption of feed contaminated with mycotoxin delayed weight gain and increased the feed conversion ratio; however, the addition of silymarin prevented these adverse effects on the chicken industry. Serum ALT activity was higher in Myc-NoSil broilers than in other groups. Intake of silymarin in healthy birds increased serum globulin concentration and reduced albumin concentration and ALT and AST serum activities compared to the Myc-NoSil group. The NoMyc-Sil birds had greater villus heights and crypt depths. Luminosity and water loss by cooking were affected by mycotoxin ingestion, changes that did not occur in the meat of birds that were supplemented with silymarin. The sum of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the meat did not change among treatments, unlike the sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids higher in the meat of birds that consumed silymarin. We conclude that silymarin is a potential additive in broiler feed; it reduces impairment of growth performance at the end of the productive cycle, prevents oxidative stress, improves meat quality, and increases polyunsaturated fatty acids.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação intra-mamária de curcumina em ovelhas com mastite subclínica e ovelhas saudáveis sobre produção de leite, qualidade do leite e saúde de ovelhas. Para isso foi realizado dois experimentos: Experimento I: 10 ovelhas com mastite subclínica crônica foram divididas em dois grupos de cinco ovelhas cada: a) controle, foi aplicado 3 mL de óleo mineral via intra-mamária; b) curcumina, aplicado 2 mg de curcumina diluída em óleo mineral via intra-mamária. Houve efeito do tratamento, isto é, ovelhas que receberam a aplicação de curcumina tiveram maior produção de leite. Houve o efeito do tratamento para percentagem de proteína no leite, assim como tendencia de efeito do tratamento para lactose e solidos totais; com destaque para menores níveis de proteína, lactose e sólidos não gordurosos nas ovelhas do grupo curcumina comparado ao controle. Verificamos uma interação entre tratamento versus dia para proteína no leite nos dias 7 e 14 após aplicação; menor no grupo curcumina. Efeito do dia foi verificado para contagem de eritrócitos e leucócitos, assim como a concentrações de hemoglobina em ambos os grupos. Para o experimento II usamos 80 ovelhas divididas em 4 grupos: controle, T2, T3 e T4 (2, 3 e 4 mg de curcumina diluída em óleo mineral via intra-mamaria, respectivamente). Efeito do dia foi observado para o grupo T2, isto é, houve um aumento na produção de leite do dia 1 para 20. A contagem de células somáticas (CCS) sofreu efeito do tratamento, dia e interação entre tratamento versus dia. O maior CCS foi observado no grupo T4. Do grupo de ovelhas, 17 tiveram problemas na glândula mamaria após a aplicação dos quatro tratamentos, sendo que cinco ovelhas desenvolveram uma grave mastite ambiental e morreram; e os demais animais também testaram positivos para mastite subclínica no teste da raquete (Califórnia Mastite Teste). De modo geral, o uso da curcumina via intra-mamaria nas doses testadas não tem efeito curativo, assim como quando usado em ovelhas saudáveis causa efeito negativo, afetando a qualidade do leite (elevou CCS). Além disso, a aplicação de produtos intra-mamários (óleo mineral ou óleo + curcumina) são um risco elevado para o animal; portanto, não recomendamos.

This study evaluated the effects of propolis extract, mixed in milk, on growth as well as on antimicrobial, antioxidant and immune responses in lactating lambs. Thirty-six Lacaune lambs [males; 7.0 ± 1.2 day (d) of age; 4.9 ± 0.80 kg of body weight (BW)] were assigned to the following groups: T0, T150, T200 and T250, representing 0, 150, 200, and 250 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d, respectively. All dosages (T150, T200, and T250) significantly increased weight gain (P = 0.01) with the greatest increase observed in T150 lambs (0.174, 0.244, 0.213, and 0.200 kg/d for T0, T150, T200, and T250, respectively). On regression analysis, the optimal dosage for improving weight gain was 137 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d. All dosage increased (P = 0.05) serum concentrations of total protein on d 10, but only T250 increased it on d 30. Only T150 increased (P = 0.02) the serum concentration of albumin on d 10, and all dosages increased it on d 30. The T200 tended to increase (P = 0.09) the serum concentration of immunoglobulin A, and T150 and T200 tended to increase (P = 0.09) the concentration of immunoglobulins heavy-chain. The T200 and T250 increased the concentration of transferrin on d 10 and only T250 increased it on d 42 (P = 0.01). All dosages increased (P = 0.04) the serum concentration of glucose. No effects were detected (P ≥ 0.11) for globulin, IgG light-chain, ceruloplasmin, urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. All dosage decreased (P = 0.01) the serum concentration of reactive oxygen species on d 30; however, only T150 and T200 decreased it on d 42, and the greatest reduction was observed for T150. All dosages increased (P = 0.01) nitric oxide levels on 30; however, only T150 and T200 increased them on d 42. All dosage decreased (P = 0.01) the concentration of superoxide dismutase. All dosages increased (P = 0.01) the concentration of non-protein thiols and protein thiols, with the greatest effects detected for T250. All dosages decreased (P = 0.01) counts of E. coli and total coliform counts in feces, with the greatest effects observed for T150 and T200. Taken together, the data suggest that addition of propolis to milk increased growth as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immune responses in lactating lambs. The greatest effects were observed for the dosage of 150 μL of propolis/kg of BW/d.

Modulation of fatty acid content in meat is thought to be a primary approach to increase human consumption of healthy fatty acids, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Recently, curcumin has been used to enhance PUFA content, as well as to reduce the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in egg yolk and milk; nevertheless, its effects on meat remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether curcumin supplementation in the concentrate of post-weaning lambs would influence fatty acid profiles in their meat. Thirty-two Lacaune lambs fed on a corn silage-based diet were divided into in four groups with four repetitions each and two lambs per repetition, as follows: curcumin-supplemented animals received concentrate containing 100 mg kg−1 (T100), 200 mg kg−1 (T200) and 300 mg kg−1 (T300) of curcumin, while the other group (control; T0) received the same concentrate without curcumin. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding body weight on all evaluated days, while average daily weight gain was significantly higher in group T300 than in T0. Total fat in meat was significant lower in groups T200 and T300 than in group T0. Total SFAs were significant lower in group T300 than in T0, while total PUFAs were higher. No significant difference was observed between groups with respect to total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Based on this evidence, we conclude that 300 mg curcumin/kg enhances daily weight gain. This supplement improves the fatty acid profiles in meat via reduction of SFAs and augmentation of PUFAs. Both effects are positive in terms of human health.