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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 off-springs. 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 nonselective 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
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.
b
a
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
Fig. 2. Ewes eating concentrate with
seaweed meal.
Foto: Hans Jørgen Skulstad
Transfer of maternal immunoglobulins
Production of immunoglobulines neonatally
Table
1
Preliminary results
Log10 cfu g-1
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.
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
1
Enterococcus
spp.
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.
L
A
B
4
2
3
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