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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1402637
This article is part of the Research Topic Animal Health and Production: Identifying Challenges and Finding a Way Forward View all 39 articles

Effects of grape seed extract supplementation on the growth performance, nutrients digestion and immunity of weaned lambs

Provisionally accepted
Jian Ma Jian Ma Tao Li Tao Li Lu Lin Lu Lin Yuezhang Lu Yuezhang Lu Xi Chen Xi Chen Sibing Li Sibing Li Chunmei Du Chunmei Du Chen Wei Chen Wei Fuquan Yin Fuquan Yin Shangquan Gan Shangquan Gan *
  • Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Grape seed extract (GSE) has a variety of biological functions. At present, there has been limited information on the utilization of GSE as a feed additive in weaned lambs. The aim of this experiment was to study the potential influence of dietary supplementation with GSE on the growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, apparent digestibility, blood parameters and immunity in weaned lambs. In total, thirty male Hu sheep lambs with similar body weight (15.43 ± 0.49 kg) and age (48 ± 2 days) were randomly divided into 2 treatments: control (CON, fed basal ration) and GSE [fed basal ration and 0.6 g/d GSE (main compositions: proanthocyanidin 50%, catechin 24%, gallic acid 16% and epicatechin 6%) per lamb]. The feeding experiment lasted for 60 d. Results showed that GSE supplementation significantly increased (p = 0.008) the average daily gain of lambs. Compared with CON group, the ruminal propionate and butyrate concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in GSE group, whereas the ammonia nitrogen was decreased (p = 0.007). Also, the crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and ether extract digestibility of GSE group were higher (p < 0.05) than those of CON group. The serum contents of glucose, triglyceride, immunoglobulin G, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in GSE group when compared to those in CON group. However, an opposite trend of urea nitrogen, nonesterified fatty acid, interleukin-1β, itumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde was observed between the two groups. Additionally, supplementation of GSE increased (p < 0.05) the Lactobacillus and decreased (p < 0.05) the Escherichia coli and Salmonella counts in the feces of lambs. In summary, GSE supplementation can improve growth performance, nutrient digestion and immunity of weaned lambs.

    Keywords: Grape Seed Extract, lamb, growth performance, Nutrient digestibility, Immunity

    Received: 18 Mar 2024; Accepted: 02 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ma, Li, Lin, Lu, Chen, Li, Du, Wei, Yin and Gan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Shangquan Gan, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China

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