Antioxidant status, metabolic profile and immune response of lambs supplemented with tannin rich Ficus infectoria leaf meal

• Published in: The Japanese journal of veterinary research Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 15 - 24
• Main Authors: Dey, Avijit, Dutta, Narayan, Pattanaik, Ashok Kumar, Sharma, Kusumakar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements - analysis; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Ficus - chemistry; Hematologic Tests - veterinary; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Proanthocyanidins - administration & dosage; Proanthocyanidins - metabolism; Random Allocation; Sheep, Domestic - metabolism
• ISSN: 0047-1917
• DOI: 10.14943/jjvr.63.1.15

To study the effect of supplementation of tanniferous tree leaves Ficus infectoria on antioxidant status and immune response, twenty four lambs were randomly divided into four groups of six each in a completely randomized design and fed either a conventional supplement (CON) or experimental supplements (FILM-I, FILM-II and FILM-III) containing 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% condensed tannins (CT), respectively by replacement of wheat bran of supplement CON with Ficus infectoria leaf meal (FILM). Blood biochemical profile was monitored in all lambs at 0, 45, 90, 135, 180 days of feeding. Although haemato-biochemical parameters remained similar, there was significant (p < 0.05) improvement in catalase activity, total thiol and protein thiol groups with reduction in lipid peroxidation (LPO) in lambs fed FILM diet irrespective of levels. However, intracellular status of reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase activity was improved (p < 0.05) only in FILM-II and FILM-III supplemented lambs. The cell-mediated immune response was significantly (p < 0.05) improved in all the lambs fed FILM supplemented diets. Improved antioxidant status and immunity in FILM supplemented lambs increased voluntary feed intake irrespective of level. However, the average daily gain for a period of 180 d showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase by the supplementation of FILM-II diet containing 1.5% CT. The present study reveals that the supplementation of Ficus infectoria leaf meal up to 21.2% in the concentrate mixture could improve the antioxidant status and immunity in lambs. However, as feed efficiency was reduced at higher levels due to presence of CT, 15.9% supplementation containing 1.5% condensed tannins in concentrate mixture is suggested to improve the health and production performance of lambs.