Transcript Overskrift Navn, etternavn

Effect of feeding Vitamine E from different sources on the
immune system and intestinal microbiota in small ruminants.
Presentation of an ongoing Norwegian project.
M. Novoa-Garrido1, L. Aanensen1, H.J.S. Larsen2, S.K. Jensen3 and H. Steinshamn1. 1 Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and
Environmental Research, Frederik A. Dahlsvei 20, 1432 Ås, Norway. 2 Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, PB 8146 Dep., 0033 Oslo,
Norway. 3 Research Center Foulum, P.O.Box 39, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research
Natural Vit E for healthy intestinal flora
Vitamin E is important for ruminants to maintain an optimal immune function, reproduction traits and a high quality of milk
and meat. Synthetic vitamin E consists of 87.5% tocopherol molecules with a non-natural configuration with low biological
efficiency. The aim of this project is to study the effects of supplementing the diets with seaweed meal or oil seeds extracts
as alternative vitamin E or antioxidant sources on the immune system and gastrointestinal microbiota in sheep and their offsprings. Of special interest is the group fed seaweed meal, since seaweed is an abundant and easy accessible raw material on
the Norwegian coastline.
The hypothesis is that supplementation with natural vitamin/antioxidant sources improves the immunologic status and the
gastrointestinal microbiota composition in sheep.
Material and methods
The study included 40 ewes 2-3 years old and their lambs. The animals were followed from mating
until they were turned out to pasture. The animals were divided into four even groups, with two
pens per group. Each group got a concentrate including different Vit E sources : natural Vit E from
oil seeds, meal produced with seaweed Ascophylum nodosum (Fig. 1 and 2), synthetic Vit E and
control.
Intestinal microbiota parameters: Enumeration of Enterobactereaceae sp., lactic acid bacteria
(LAB), Clostridium sp., total bacteria count (TBC) and Enterococcus sp. in faeces by using
selective and non-selective media, and different incubation conditions.
Fig. 1. Ascophylum nodosum harvested on
the coast of Nordland, Norway.
Foto: Celine Rebours
Fig. 3. Enumeration of Enterococcus sp. on
CATC agar plates (a) and Enterobactereaceae
sp. on Mac Conkey agar plates (b).
Foto: Margarita Novoa-Garrido
a
b
Immunological parameters: Table 1 shows the tests done in the ewes and the newborn lambs in
order to establish the effect of the dietary antioxidant on the animals immune system.
Mothers
Production of specific antibodies following
immunization
Production of antibodies against environmental
microbes
Immunoglobuline concentration
Production of maternal antibodies
Lambs
Production of specific antibodies following
immunization
Production of antibodies against environmental
microbes
Cell mediated immunity following immunization
Transfer of maternal immunity
Transfer of maternal immunoglobulins
Fig. 2. Ewes eating concentrate with seaweed
meal.
Foto: Hans Jørgen Skulstad
Production of immunoglobulines neonatally
Table 1
Preliminary results
Log10 cfu g-1
6
5.5
The sizes of the bacterial populations in the feaces from the ewes where it seems to be an effect of supplement type are shown
in Fig. 4.
Enterococcus spp.
LAB
The counts of Enterococcus spp. in animals fed supplement containing vit E from oil
seeds was higher than in the rest of the treatments (p=0,07). Some Enterococcus
spp. are shown to cause growth depression in some animal species.
6.5
6
5
4.5
5.5
4
5
3.5
4.5
3
2.5
1
2
3
4
4
1
2
3
4
Fig. 4. Log 10 CFU of different bacteria groups in faeces from ewes
fed with the different supplement types (1=seaweed meal,
2=synthetic vit. E, 3=oil seed, 4=control). Values are express as
means with 95% CI.
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The counts of LAB in the animal fed seaweed meal seemed to be somewhat lower
(p=0,4) than in the other treatments. Lactobacillus spp. is a lactic acid bacterium,
and Lactobacillus spp. have a regulating and protecting role in the intestinal tract.
Bioforsk
Fr. A. Dahlsvei 20, NO-1432 Ås
Norway