Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune responses and antioxidant status of lambs supplemented with humic acids and fermented wheat bran polysaccharides
2020
Wang, Yuan | Wang, Ruifang | Hao, Xiran | Hu, Yuchao | Guo, Tao | Zhang, Jia | Wang, Wenwen | Shi, Xinyu | An, Xiaoping | Qi, Jingwei
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sodium humate (SH) and/or fermented wheat bran polysaccharides (FWBPs) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune responses and antioxidant status of lambs. Seventy-two 4-month-old female crossbred (Dorper × Mongolian Sheep) lambs with initial body weight (BW) of 34.82 ± 1.07 kg were used. Lambs were allotted to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 sodium humate (SH) supplemental levels (0 or 2.5 g of SH/kg of diet) and 2 FWBPs supplemental levels (0 or 3 g of FWBPs/kg of diet) according to their initial BW. There were 3 lambs per pen and 6 pen replicates per diet. Lambs were adapted to diets for 15 d, and the experiment was conducted for 60 d. Bodyweight and feed intake were recorded. Fecal samples were collected from each lamb during the last 10 d of the trial to determine nutrient digestibility. Blood was collected at the end of the trial, and used to assess blood metabolites, immune responses and antioxidant status. The results showed that supplemental SH did not affect growth performance of lambs. The ADG of lambs were increased (P < 0.05) by FWBPs supplementation, and DMI were tended to be higher (P = 0.056). There was no effect of SH supplementation on nutrient digestibility of lambs. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP were increased by FWBPs supplementation (P < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation of FWBPs tended to increase (P = 0.092) apparent digestibility of NDF. Supplemental FWBPs increased (P < 0.05) IgG, IgM and IL-10 concentrations and CAT activity in plasma. However, the adverse effect of SH supplementation (P = 0.070) was found in plasma IgG concentration. In conclusion, FWBPs supplementation can promote growth performance and nutrient digestion, improve immune responses by increasing immunoglobulins and cytokine concentrations, enhance antioxidant status by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities in lambs. On the other hand, there were no benefits from the SH supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune function and antioxidant status of lambs.
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