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Research Article
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Physiological Response of West African Dwarf Goats to Oral Supplementation with Omega-3-fatty Acid |
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K.M. Okukpe,
A.A. Adeloye,
M.B. Yousuf,
O.I. Alli,
M.A. Belewu
and
O.A. Adeyina
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ABSTRACT
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The effect of Omega-3-fatty-acid on performance was carried out in sixteen
(16) West African Dwarf does between 12 to 18 months of age with an average
weight of 10 kg. Supplementation of Omega-3-fattyacid was varied from 0 mg for
control to 500, 1000 and 1500 mg for low, medium and high level (s), respectively.
Blood samples were collected on days 14, 28, 42 and 56 after Omega-3-fatty acid
administration and were analyzed for haematological/biochemical parameters.
Different levels of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had no significant (p>0.05)
effect on weight gain or feed efficiency of West Africa Dwarf goats. However,
there was significant difference (p<0.05) in feed intake. West African Dwarf
goats on 500 mg level of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was observed to
have relatively (p<0.05)the lowest feed efficiency and lowest daily weight
gain. Results indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) between the mean
values of serum total protein (50.50±6.45 to 43.25±6.45 g L-1)
and that of serum cholesterol (3.08±0.43 to 2.93±0.43 mmol L-1)
and a significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean values of serum urea
level (4.45±0.73 to 6.38±0.73 mmol L-1). Although,
there was no statistical difference between the mean values of serum total protein
and serum cholesterol there was a tendency for a decrease at high (1500 mg)
level of supplementation. There were no significant difference in their serum-glucose
concentration, It was concluded that Omega-3-fatty acid can be used as dietary
supplement for West African Dwarf does without posing any kind of stress on
the health of the animal thereby increasing essential fatty acid in animal products.
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Received: March 01, 2011;
Accepted: November 17, 2011;
Published: December 01, 2011
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INTRODUCTION
The growth and reproductive performance of West African dwarf goat being critical
to the socio-economic status of Nigerian rural dwellers could be improved in
the area of nutrition and reproduction. We often hear the expression We
are what we eat (Aworinde, 2010). However, a true
expression would be we are what our animals eat. There are various researches
that certain feed supplements increase n-3 fatty acids of animal products, including
eggs, meat from major domestic species and milk from cows, sheep and goats (Chilliard
and Ferlay, 2004; Correa, 2005; Baiomy,
2011).
Recently, it has been observed that feeding cows with supplemental fat cause
improved energy balance and early oestrus-cycle due to the quality of fat supplement
(Titi and Awad, 2007; Geiringer et
al., 2010).
Fatty acids are the precursors of prostaglandins (PG) and steroid hormones
(through cholesterol) which have an effect on fertility (Iribhogbe
et al., 2011). In general, feeding supplemental fat such as calcium
soaps of long chain fatty acids, fish meal and tallow increases conception rates.
However, a lowered conception rate at first service has been reported when there
was a paralleled increase in milk production (range of 2.2 to 4.5 kg d-1)
(Geiringer et al., 2010). There are two main families
of essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, that could affect
fertility. The main source of omega-6 fatty acids is dietary linoleic acid (C18:2n-6)
and this is converted to arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), which inter alia is the
precursor of the dienoic (2-series) PG, such as PGF2α. The same
elongase and desaturaze enzymes also convert the main dietary omega-3 fatty
acids (α-linolenic acid; C18:3n-3) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3),
the precursor of the trienoic (3-series) PG, such as PGF3α
(Da Cunha et al., 2007; Webb
and ONeil, 2008). Increasing the supply of omega-3 fatty acids will
decrease production of dienoic PG and reduce competition for site of PG synthetase
(Lammoglia et al., 2000; Davidson
et al., 2007). In many cases the trienoic PG have lower biological
activity than the corresponding dienoic PG (Calder and Deckelbaum,
2008) and this may directly affect aspects of fertility. For example, treatments
that reduce ovarian and endometrial synthesis of PGF2α, at the
expense of PGF3α, may contribute to a reduction in embryonic
mortality (Mattos et al., 2000).
The essential fatty acid contained in omega-3-fatty acid are Eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Alpha linoleic acid. These are not
synthesized in the body of animals and humans and are necessary in nutrition
because of its health benefits. Omega-3-fatty acid is used to cure different
diseases such as diabetes, cancer, lung and kidney diseases, reproduction disorders,
visceral disorders, metabolic disorders and rheumatoid arthritis (Chilliard
and Ferlay, 2004; Babalola et al., 2008;
Geiringer et al., 2010). Feeding supplemental
fat has been reported not only to increase energy density but also to improve
energetic efficiency depending on the fat quality (Lammoglia
et al., 2000; Laaksonen et al., 2005;
Kamara et al., 2011; Eghoghosoa
et al., 2011). Fat and long-chain fatty acids, whether in adipose
tissue or muscle, contribute to important aspects of meat quality and are central
to the nutritional and sensory values of meat (Pambu-Gollah
et al., 2000; Stewart, 2006; Webb
and ONeil, 2008). Although, the mechanism by which fat supplementation
alters reproductive performance is not yet understood, studies have been conducted
to investigate the influence of dietary fat supplement on reproductive performance
for cattle with few directed toward these effects on goats reproductive performance
(Titi and Awad, 2007).
The objectives of this study therefore, was to determine the level(s) of omega-3-fatty acid that is suitable for effective performance of West African dwarf goats in relation to feed intake, body weight gain, serum metabolites such as protein, glucose, urea and cholesterol levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental work was carried out at the Small ruminant unit of the Animal pavilion of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin between January to April, 2010. Sixteen West African Dwarf goats between 12-18 months and weighing between 7-11 kg were used. They were quarantined for 18 days to acclimatize, during which they were treated against external/internal parasites and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia using Ivomectin injection (i/m) and Tissue Cultured Rinderpest Vaccine (TCRV), respectively. Two milliliter of Vitamin B-Complex was administered (i/m) to each goat to aid feed intake while 1 mL of long acting oxy-tetracycline injection was given to prevent pneumonia.
Table 1: |
Proximate composition of experimental diet |
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Housing: The does were housed in pens with slatted floors and a little runs provided for exercise. The pens were cleaned with detergent and disinfected with Lysol before the arrival of the animals. Feeding: Water and feed were supplied using plastic bowls and wooden feeding troughs, respectively in their pens and well secured to prevent feed wastage and water spillage. The animals were fed at 3% of their body weight with concentrate feed to meet their body requirement for growth and reproduction as shown in Table 1.
Experimental design: The does were randomly assigned to four treatment
groups A (control), B (500 mg Omega-3-fatty acid), C (1000 mg Omega-3-fatty
acid) and D (1500 kg Omega-3-fatty acid) (containing Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) with four replicates each. The goats were housed
intensively and were checked for any palpable deformities of the reproductive
organ. The experiment lasted for a period of eight weeks. Animals were weighed
and blood, 3 mL for haematological analysis and 7 mL for biochemical analysis
collected fortnightly. Serum total protein level(s) was analyzed using Biuret
Method (Layne, 1957), Urea level(s) through Modified
Berthelot Enzymatic Methods (Reinhold, 1953) and Cholesterol
level(s) using CHOD-PAP (Lyophilized) kit (Zoppi and Fellini,
1976).
Statistical analysis: All data collected were subjected to a completely
randomized design model and significant treatment means were compared using
the Duncan multiple range test (Duncan, 1955; Steel
and Torrie, 1990).
RESULTS The chemical composition of the experimental diet is presented in Table 1 with feed having a dry matter content of 92.51% and crude protein of 18.81%. Table 2 shows the effects of different level of omega-3 fatty acids on feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency of West African dwarf goats. Omega-3-fatty acid had no effect on the weight of the animal but seems to increase feed consumption, though not significantly (p>0.05). The control group (A) had the highest feed efficiency compared to B, C and D, although they were not significantly different (p>0.05).
There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the mean values. The
lowest serum urea value was in the control group (A) while the highest was in
group D (Table 3). The mean value at high level of supplementation
was statistically different (p<0.05) compared to the other treatments and
the control.
Table 2: |
Effect of omega-3-fatty acids on feed intake, weight gain
and feed efficiency |
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Table 3: |
Effects of dietary omega 3- fatty acid intake on hematological
and biochemical parameters of West African dwarf goats |
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Means with different superscript are significantly different
from each other (p<0.05). SEM = Standard Error of Mean |
The mean serum cholesterol values ranged from 2.93±0.43 to 3.13±0.43
with group C having ±0.43 the highest while group D had the lowest, though
not significant. The mean serum glucose concentration also ranged from 3.21±0.36
to 3.80±0.36 with the lowest found in group A (control) while group B
had the highest, though not significant. All this did not follow a definite
trend.
DISCUSSION
There was no significant difference in final body weight among the treatments,
although animals in groups B and C had a marginal increase of 23% when compared
with the control. In terms of weight gain group D (1500 mg Omega-3 fatty acid)
had the highest but in terms of feed efficiency the control group was better
than others. It could be adduced that Omega-3 fatty acid improves weight gain,
though not significantly. Supplemental fat may improve energy balance and enhance
follicular growth and development (Titi and Awad, 2007;
Eghoghosoa et al., 2011). Further supported by
Geiringer et al. (2010) that it was fatty acids
and not the additional energy provided by the fatty acid that stimulated ovarian
function and improve conception rate. This also improves the ability to use
nutrients from food and convert them into muscle protein (Simopoulos,
2002). The improved health status of the animals could also be attributed
to the Omega-3 fatty acid supplement as supported by various findings (Lammoglia
et al., 2000; Leaf et al., 2003; Stewart,
2006). It has been shown that blood metabolites give an immediate indication
of an animals nutritional status at a point in time (Pambu-Gollah
et al., 2000). Altering fatty acid composition of foods by increasing
the polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio represents a useful method of disease
prevention and health (Chilliard and Ferlay, 2004) Polyunsaturated
fatty acid content of beef (Scollan et al., 2001)
and polyunsaturated fatty acid content of lamb muscle (Demirel
et al., 2004) has been increased by administration of polyunsaturated
fatty acid. Omega-3-fatty acid concentration in plasma circulatory cells and
all organs is dependent on the intake of preformed fatty acid (Chilliard
and Ferlay, 2004). Although, the availability of this fatty acid to cells
involves a series of physiological processes including digestion, absorption,
transport and metabolism of fat (Kang, 2001; Cardozo
et al., 2006).
The white blood cells seems to decrease with increasing supplementation, this
shows that Omega-3 fatty acid has no negative effect on the animal but improves
their health and performance (Lammoglia et al., 2000;
Geiringer et al., 2010).
The non-significant difference in serum total protein with Omega-3-fatty acid
supplementation is in agreement with what was observed in fishes fed dietary
lipids (Babalola et al., 2008). Chilliard
and Ferlay (2004) and Benchaar et al. (2007)
indicated that the purpose for feeding dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid is
to modulate milk fat and that altering all types of lipid supplement can increase
goat milk fat without modifying yield of protein and serum protein which is
incorporated in milk. So, Omega-3-fatty acid would not influence serum total
protein anyway. Although, the mean values of serum total protein level showed
no statistical significant difference it reduced as the omega-3- fatty acid
supplementation increased. This trend could be as a result of increased protein
metabolism since it has been hypothesized in rats that Omega-3-fatty acid may
improve blood flow and consequently metabolism in cells (Wang
et al., 2000; Laaksonen et al., 2005).
Reduction in serum total protein could also be due to Omega-3- fatty acid oxidation.
Castillejos et al. (2006) and Webb
and ONeil (2008) indicated that less saturated fats containing a number
of fatty acids with double bond are easily oxidized either by direct chemical
action or through intermediary activity of lipolytic enzymes.
The high serum urea level recorded for group D could be as a result of protein
catabolism and excessive mobilization of muscle fat (Chimonyo
et al., 2002) hence the low serum protein level. This supports the
work of other researchers that high fat diets increase rumen ammonia and also
plasma urea nitrogen (Chilliard and Ferlay, 2004; Tatsouka
et al., 2008). This therefore, relates to the reduced level of serum
protein at high level of supplementation. High urea level has been shown to
be non toxic as was observed in this work (McIntosh et
al., 2003).
Omega-3-fatty acid supplementation at the various levels had little or no effect
on serum cholesterol level in West African Dwarf does. Although, there was no
statistical difference between the mean values of serum cholesterol. There was
a tendency for a decrease in serum cholesterol level at high level (1500 mg)
of Omega-3-fatty acid supplementation which recorded the lowest value 2.93±0.43
mmol L-1 with a negligible difference in comparison with the value
(3.08±0.43 mmol L-1) obtained for control. This in a way agrees
with Mattos et al. (2000) who stated that omega-3-fatty
acid has a major effect on plasma lipid by reducing triglycerol.
According to Webb and ONeil (2008), the mechanism
by which dietary fatty acid affects serum lipids and lipoprotein levels is unknown.
In generally, it is assumed that serum lipid fatty acid composition reflects
the fatty acid composition of a diet, which in turn affects serum cholesterol,
triglyceride, lipoprotein and azoprotein. Thus the level of some free fatty
acids in the serum can be influenced by the quantities in the diet but these
changes are not dramatic. This could probably be the reason for the little effect
of the dietary fatty acid (Omega-3-fatty acid) on serum cholesterol levels in
this study.
Serum glucose also increase with increasing Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation
supporting the report of various authors that it improves energy balance as
well as increase energy density (Titi and Awad, 2007).
CONCLUSION
Omega-3-fatty acid supplementation fed at low, medium and high levels to West
African Dwarf does showed little or no significant effect on weight gain, feed
efficiency, serum cholesterol and total protein level but had a significant
effect on serum urea levels. From the trend of the values obtained in this study
there is a strong indication that supplementation beyond 1500 mg may produce
a real effect. Omega-3-fatty acid can be used as a source of dietary fatty acid
supplement in West African Dwarf does without posing any kind of stress on the
health of the animal. This may provide a way to enrich animal products such
as meat and milk with essential fatty acid required by humans.
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