Effects of Electrolyte Multivitamins and Neomycin on Immunity and Intestinal Barrier Function in Transported Lambs

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Transportation induces significant stress in animals, impacting physiological and immunological parameters.
• Understanding interventions to mitigate stress and support animal welfare during transport is crucial for livestock management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an electrolytic multivitamin compared to neomycin in alleviating transportation stress in lambs.
• To assess the impact of these supplements on growth, immune response, and intestinal barrier function.

Main Methods:

• Sixty 4-month-old lambs were divided into three groups: control (basal diet), electrolytic multivitamin (375 mg/d/lamb), and neomycin (200 mg/d/lamb).
• Measurements included body weight, serum immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG), stress hormones (ACTH, E, COR), cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ), colonic fermentation products, intestinal morphology, and gene/protein expression of barrier and inflammatory markers.
• Samples were collected on days 0, 7, and 14 relative to the transportation day.

Main Results:

• Both multivitamin and neomycin groups showed increased lamb weights, IgA, and IgG, alongside decreased stress hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• The multivitamin group exhibited enhanced colonic propionate, improved jejunal and colonic morphology (villus height, V/C ratio, crypt depth), and upregulated intestinal barrier proteins (Occludin, MUC1, ZO-1).
• Inflammatory signaling pathways (TRAF6, TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB) were downregulated in both supplemented groups, with more significant reductions observed in the multivitamin group.

Conclusions:

• Electrolytic multivitamin supplementation effectively improves immunity and intestinal barrier function in lambs subjected to transportation stress.
• The 375 mg/d dosage of electrolytic multivitamin demonstrated superior efficacy compared to neomycin in mitigating stress and enhancing gut health.
• Dietary supplementation with electrolytic multivitamins represents a promising strategy for improving animal welfare and performance during livestock transport.