Brown seaweed‐ (Tasco^TM) treated conserved forage enhances antioxidant status and immune function in heat‐stressed wether lambs

Abstract

Twenty-seven wether lambs were utilized to evaluate select innate immunity and oxidative stress in response to diet and heat stress. Dietary treatments were: (i) control (tall fescue) hay = no Tasco (tradename for the extract of the brown seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, Acadian Sealants Ltd, Nova Scotia, Canada); (ii) pre-harvest Tasco-Forage-treated hay and (iii) control hay + post-harvest Tasco-EX. Tasco-Forage and Tasco-EX are two forms of the Tasco extract that are either applied to foliage or used for direct feeding, respectively. All lambs were supplemented with soyabean meal and trace mineralized salt. Heat stress was applied for 10 days with measurements obtained at days 0, 4 and 10. A heat x treatment interaction indicated hay with Tasco enhanced monocyte oxidative burst through short duration (p < 0.05) and long duration (p < 0.10) heat stress. Phagocytic activity was influenced by days of heat stress (p < 0.001) and treatment (p = 0.02) with post-harvest Tasco lambs exhibiting the greatest immune enhancement (p < 0.05). Red and white blood cell glutathione peroxidase increased by heat stress day 10 in Tasco lambs. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased and lipid hydroperoxide metabolites minimized (p < 0.01) through long duration heat stress in the pre-harvest Tasco group. Tasco treatment of tall fescue hay prior to harvest appears to provide residual effects on animal antioxidant availability in short-duration heat stress. Tasco supplementation to post-harvest fescue hay enhances immune function and protects against prolonged heat-induced oxidative stress.

Antibody production in sheep fed a diet containing brown seaweed

“…2) in group E, is in agreement with the findings of Archer et al (2007), Chiu et al (2008) and Saker et al (2004) on the priority effects of brown seaweed on the enhancement of nonspecific immunity parameters (antioxidants, cytokinins) and 50% decrease in the specific immunity response to ovoalbumin. To achieve the required effect of brown seaweed alginates on the enhancement of nonspecific immunity and weakening of specific immunity doses higher than 2 g of seaweed per kg of complete feed ration were mostly used in the above-mentioned studies (Turner et al 2002, Saker et al 2004, Archer et al 2007, which markedly exceeds the intake of seaweeds in group E (Table 1). The results obtained significantly accentuate the risk of diet enrichment with seaweed in sheep arising already at an amount of 71 mg per head day -1 at targeted specific immunization (Fig.…”

“…However, the majority of the findings up to now have demonstrated the enhancement only of nonspecific immunity. The short-time enhancement of the oxidative burst of monocytes and increased activity of glutathione peroxidase in lambs after the application of brown seaweeds were reported by Saker et al (2004). Cheng et al (2005) and Chiu et al (2008) found in crustaceans and fish that the application of 1-2 g sodium alginate per kg diet increased the complement and lysozyme activity, respiratory burst of monocytes and phagocytic activity.…”

“…An increase in body temperature, aldosterone and cortisol was lower along with the production of the antibodies IgG and IgM. The positive effects of additives prepared from dried seaweeds on health status and productivity were described by Saker et al (2004). According to Rodinová et al (2006) the intake of brown seaweed at an amount of 71 mg per head day -1 accelerated in gimmers only the ontogenetically conditioned increase in gamma-globulins while the leukocyte count and phagocytic activity of neutrophilic granulocytes were not influenced (Písek et al 2006).…”

Ascophyllum nodosum in the diet of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its effect after inoculation of Aeromonas hydrophila

“…However, they found a positive effect on the activity of serum lysozyme. Positive effects on the immune system and resistance to stress in sheep have been described by Saker (2004).…”

GC/MS analysis and In-vitro Antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Ulothrix flacca and its main constituent Dimethyl Sulfone.

“…The oxidation processes of all living organisms are very intrinsic in the energy management, and are, therefore, should be kept under strict control by several cellular mechanisms [7]. Several types of extracts obtained from seaweeds have received special attention due to their potent pharmaceutical activities, including anticancer, immune-stimulant and antioxidant activities [8]. Seaweeds contain high amounts of polyphenols.…”