Feeding the extract of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum (ANOD) has been
shown to mediate the response of livestock to certain environmental stressors. To
determine if feeding ANOD is useful in alleviating handling and transport stress, two
trials were conducted. The dose response trial was conducted to determine at which rate
ANOD should be fed to obtain beneficial results. Forty-four lambs received ANOD at
either 0 (control), 0.5, 1, or 2% of dry matter intake per day (approximately 0, 0.25, 0.5,
and 1 g/kg of body wt per day). Sheep were administered ANOD twice daily for 14d.
After 14d of supplementation, IgG and IgM antibody response to ovalbumin was
reduced by ANOD. The sheep fed at the 2% rate had a narrower range of body
temperature during transport than controls. The 2% rate also had lower body
temperatures than the controls during times when the thermal heat index was above 80.
The sheep fed the 2% rate had lower cortisol and aldosterone concentrations during
walking and transport compared to the controls. Post transport, sheep supplemented at
the 1 or 2% rates were less dehydrated as indicated by plasma chemistry profiles andelectrolyte concentrations. In a subsequent trial, the major components of the ANOD
(fucoidan, salt, and betaine) were fed to determine which, if any, were responsible for
the treatment effects in the dose response trial. After 14d supplementation, the salt and
ANOD sheep had a depressed IgG and IgM antibody response to ovalbumin and an
increase in white blood cell counts and lymphocyte numbers compared to controls. The
ANOD sheep were generally lower in body temperature than the other treatments during
transport. The ANOD and salt sheep had lower cortisol concentrations compared to
controls. At the end of transport, sheep supplemented with ANOD or salt had lower
electrolyte concentrations than control sheep. Supplementation with ANOD was
associated with lowered body temperature; however, it also suppressed antibody titer
which could leave animals susceptible to bacterial infection. The lowered antibody
production is of concern and needs further study before ANOD can be recommended as
a useful stress management tool.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/2514 |
| Date | 01 November 2005 |
| Creators | Archer, Gregory Scott |
| Contributors | Friend, Ted |
| Publisher | Texas A&M University |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | 853602 bytes, electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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