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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.

Bioforsk Fr. A. Dahlsvei 20, NO-1432 Ås

Norway

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.

margarita.novoa-garrido@bioforsk.no

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 methodsThe 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.

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.

a b

Fig. 3. Enumeration of Enterococcus sp. on CATC agar plates (a) and Enterobactereaceae sp. on Mac Conkey agar plates (b). Foto: Margarita Novoa-Garrido

Mothers LambsProduction of specific antibodies following immunization

Production of specific antibodies following immunization

Production of antibodies against environmental microbes

Production of antibodies against environmental microbes

Immunoglobuline concentration Cell mediated immunity following immunization

Production of maternal antibodies Transfer of maternal immunityTransfer of maternal immunoglobulinsProduction of immunoglobulines neonatallyTable

1Preliminary resultsThe 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.

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5.5

6Enterococcus spp.

1 2 3 4

Log1

0 cf

u g-1

1 2 3 44

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LAB

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.

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.

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.

Fig. 2. Ewes eating concentrate with seaweed meal. Foto: Hans Jørgen Skulstad

Fig. 1. Ascophylum nodosum harvested on the coast of Nordland, Norway. Foto: Celine Rebours