A live yeast supplementation to gestating ewes improves bioactive molecule composition in colostrum with no impact on its bacterial composition and beneficially affects immune status of the offspring

Abstract

Colostrum quality is of paramount importance in the management of optimal ruminant growth and infectious disease prevention in early life. Live yeast supplementation effect during the last month of gestation was evaluated on ewes’ colostrum composition. Two groups of ewes (n = 14) carrying twin lambs were constituted and twins were separated into groups (mothered or artificially fed) 12 h after birth. Nutrient, oligosaccharides (OS), IgG and lactoferrin concentrations were measured over 72 h after lambing, and bacterial community was described in colostrum collected at parturition (T0). Immune passive transfer was evaluated through IgG measurement in lamb serum. In both groups, colostral nutrient, OS concentrations and IgG concentrations in colostrum and lamb serum decreased over time (P < 0⋅01), except for lactose, which slightly increased (P < 0⋅001), and lactoferrin, which remained stable. Bacterial population was stable over time with high relative abundances of Aerococcaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae and Staphylococcaceae in T0 colostrum. No effect of supplementation was observed in nutrient and lactoferrin concentrations. In supplemented ewes, the level of colostral IgG was higher at T0 and a higher level of serum IgG was observed in lambs born from supplemented mothers and artificially fed, while no effect of supplementation was observed in the mothered lamb groups. Using a metabolomic approach, we showed that supplementation affected OS composition with significantly higher levels of colostral Neu-5Gc compounds up to 5 h after birth. No effect of supplementation was observed on bacterial composition. Our data suggest that live yeast supplementation offsets the negative impact of early separation and incomplete colostrum feeding in neonate lambs.

The supplementation of female dogs with live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-1079 acts as gut stabilizer at whelping and modulates immunometabolic phenotype of the puppies

“…During the first days after birth, colostrum, providing energy and immunity, is indispensable for newborn puppies to deal with the challenging transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life (19,87). Many studies in pigs support that live yeast supplementation during gestation and/or lactation improves the quality of colostrum (16, [88][89][90][91]. In the current study, the SB-1079 supplementation had no effect on the immune composition of the colostrum.…”

“…Sialic acid has been described as increasing in gestating women, being largely involved in the milk oligosaccharides synthesis, and crossing the placenta to participate to in utero body growth and brain development (98). Dunière et al (91) reported that a supplementation of gestating ewes with a live yeast resulted in significantly higher levels of colostral N-glycolylneuraminic acid. In our study, the decrease in number of LBW puppies as well as the trend to have more sugars in the colostrum are consistent with a modulation of the amino-sugar metabolism.…”

Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age

“…In agreement with these observations, lower serum IgG has been often observed in ruminants fed milk replacer [ 18 ]. In addition to bioactive proteins, colostrum includes oligosaccharides which probably provide adequate substrates to the pioneer gut bacteria [ 30 ]. Limited colostrum intake may then also delay the bacterial colonization of the intestine, possibly leaving the newborn vulnerable to infections during the preweaning period.…”

Malnutrition of pregnant beef cows and the impact on passive immunity transfer to calves

“…In ewes, supplementation with live yeast during the last month of gestation increased colostrum IgG and other bioactive molecules (Dunière et al 2022). This improvement in colostrum composition translated into higher serum IgG in lambs born from supplemented ewes and kept with their mothers for only 12 h, while no effect of supplementation was observed in the lamb group that stayed with the dams (Dunière et al 2022).…”

“…In ewes, supplementation with live yeast during the last month of gestation increased colostrum IgG and other bioactive molecules (Dunière et al 2022). This improvement in colostrum composition translated into higher serum IgG in lambs born from supplemented ewes and kept with their mothers for only 12 h, while no effect of supplementation was observed in the lamb group that stayed with the dams (Dunière et al 2022). In dairy cows, supplementation with a yeast fermentation product during the transition period enhanced mucosal immunity and humoral immune response, without a positive effect on colostrum IgG (Yuan et al 2015).…”