The Combined Effect of Mediterranean Shrubland Pasture and the Dietary Administration of Sage By-Products on the Antioxidant Status of Segureña Ewes and Lambs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if the combined effect of ewe grazing and the incorporation of sage by-products in the lamb feed enhances the Segureña ewe and lamb antioxidant status. For that, the endogenous (related to blood antioxidant enzymes) and exogenous (plasma antioxidant activity) antioxidant systems of ewes and lambs were studied at the physiological stages of lactation, after weaning and at the end of the fattening period. Major results indicated that grazing improved the enzymatic antioxidant defense of ewes during the stressful period of lamb weaning, and also, the antioxidant status of the ewe plasma at both physiological stages: lactation and after lamb weaning. With regards to the lambs, ewe grazing stimulated the antioxidant enzymatic defense during lactation, but not the antioxidant capacity of the plasma. At the end of the fattening period, the inclusion of sage by-products in the lamb diet (10% w/w) enhanced both the enzymatic cascade and antioxidant capacity of the lamb plasma. The antioxidant capacity of the lamb meat was also studied and the benefits of sage were detected in samples from the deltoideus muscle. Thus, Mediterranean grazing stimulated the antioxidant defense in ewes, while the inclusion of sage by-products in the lamb diets enhanced the antioxidant status of both blood and meat.

Influence of adding sage leaves on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation in Awassi lambs

“…Furthermore, 30 reported that roughage and concentrate feed intake were not alerted when Holstein calves fed on a mixture of leaves, including sage leaves -31 obtained similar results with no change in feed intake when fed sage essential oil to lambs. Regarding growth performance, the positive effect on the total weight gain and average daily gain of lambs in the current study may be due to sage leaves' containing flavonoids and phenolic compounds which scavenge free radicals 13,32 or maybe the essential oil in sage leaves act as an anti-intestinal worm and improve the health status of the lambs 33 . Furthermore, sage leaves are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, and C and minerals 34 .…”

Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Pig Muscle Exudate through Label-Free Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

“…In an attempt to improve the antioxidant protection in intensive farming systems, several options have been considered mainly concerning the administration of diets rich in bioactive compounds credited with high antioxidant potential [43]. Farm animals bred in outdoor systems, as in the case of the Nero d'Abruzzo pig, suffer less from these problems and this could largely derive from the dietary consumption of antioxidant compounds, especially polyphenols that widely characterize the husbandries of the Mediterranean area [44,45]. This environment thus contributes to the strengthening of these animals' antioxidant defenses [46].…”

Impact of polyherbal formulation oral administration on the estrus response, luteal activity, and oxidative stress in postpartum dairy cows with ovarian subfunction

“…In addition, intrauterine infusion with polyherbal formulation was previously investigated in a field study to treat various reproductive infertility problems in cows [24]. It has been recently reported that grazing of small ruminants on pasture of different natural plants stimulated the enzymatic antioxidant defense in ewe in Mediterranean shrublands [25]. Another recently published study showed that supplementation of polyherbal formulation improved the antioxidant defense mechanism and blood biochemical indices in goats [26].…”