A live yeast supplementation to gestating ewes improves bioactive molecules 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) 12h after birth. Nutrient, oligosaccharides (OS), IgG and lactoferrin concentrations were measured over 72h 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 View larger version (22K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8c4e5borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16c6cf6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1658d42org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1cf0fa_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG