Research Article

Effect of Vitamins and Hormones during different stages of Lactation in Lohi Sheep and Beetal Goats

Sonia Kanwal1, Muhammad Naeem1*, Zaib Un Nisa1, Rabia Farhat1 and Zia Ur Rehman2

1Institute of Pure and Applied Biology (Zoology Division), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan; 2Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Received | January 15, 2022; Accepted | May 30, 2022; Published | October 18, 2022

*Correspondence | Muhammad Naeem, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology (Zoology Division), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan; Email: dr_naeembzu@yahoo.com

Citation | Kanwal, S., M. Naeem, Z.U, Nisa, R. Farhat and Z.U. Rehman. 2022. Effect of vitamins and hormones during different stages of Lactation in Lohi Sheep and Beetal Goats. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 38(4): 1462-1467.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2022/38.4.1462.1467

Keywords | Lohi sheep, Beetal goat, Lactation, Vitamins, Hormones

Copyright: 2022 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

Immediately before parturition as well as during the first stage of lactation, increased mammary gland activity results in energy deficiency. Changes in metabolites and hormones occur as a result of increased metabolic demands during lactation and animals become more susceptible to a number of metabolic diseases at this stage than during other life periods compromising productivity (Ashmawy, 2015). Homeostasis is the coordinated control in metabolism of body tissues necessary to support a physiological state (Abdulkareem, 2013). Lactation period represents a critical life phase, since have to adjust metabolically to the increase in energy and nutrient requirements needed to ensure milk production (Fiore et al., 2017).

Additionally increased demands for energy during early lactation would initiate oxidative reactions thus inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation (Fassaha et al., 2015) and animals may face “oxidative stress”. Development of ROS are counterbalanced through antioxidant defense system. The system includes enzymatic (SOD, Catalase and GSHPx) and non-enzymatic includes, Vitamin E, C, zinc, glutathione, carotene, beta carotene (Pierce et al., 2004).

Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant with most active homologues α-tocopherol that when react with ROS produce oxidative stress and defend the cell membranes from lipid peroxidation (Traber and Atkinson, 2007). Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a water soluble antioxidant against ROS and defends DNA damage. It can be used in a chain breaking antioxidant which helps to inhibit the synthesis of the peroxidative process and also facilitates the recycling of glutathione and oxidized vitamin E (Chan, 1993).

During lactation, the mammary gland secretary cells utilize 80% of the circulating metabolites in the blood for milk synthesis (Karapehlivan et al., 2007). Thyroid hormones play an important role in lipid metabolism and concentration of these parameters in the blood gives a clearer picture of nutritional and health status of the animal. Serum T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly decreased during parturition and early lactation (Fiore et al., 2018) and then increased in T3 and T4 concentrations were observed during the late lactation. The cortisol is well-accepted indicator for stress (Schwinn et al.,2018) and its level varies during lactation. There is enhancement of cortisol during lactation period due to increased adrenocorticotrophic hormone that in turn causes the release of glucocorticoids from adrenal gland (ALkalby and Mohammad, 2013).

Materials and Methods

Clinically healthy Lohi sheep (n=30) and Beetal goats (n=30) aged between 1.5-5 years were selected from Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadur Nagar Farm, Okara, Pakistan . The lactating groups were divided into early, peak and low lactation stages as Lac I (30 days), Lac II (60 days) and Lac III (90 days-onwards) in both Lohi sheep and Beetal goats. Blood samples were collected and serum has been preserved at -20 0C. The analyses were done in the laboratory of Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Vitamin E (Vit. E; µmol/L) and Vitamin C (Vit. C; µmol/L)

Method of Rutkowski and Grzegorczyk (2007) was used for the evaluation of vitamin E and C. By using the following formula, the concentrations of vitamin E and vitamin C were calculated as followed:

Where;

Cx: Concentration of vitamin E/C; Ax: Absorbance of the sample; As: Absorbance of the standard; Cs: Concentration of the standard solution.

Triiodothyronine (T3: ng/mL) and Thyroxine (T4; µg/dL)

T3 and T4 Elisa kit (Biocheck Inc., Foster City, CA-94404, USA, Lot No. RN - 41498) was used for evaluation of T3 and T4 concentrations. By means of using lin-log method for data reduction, concentrations of all samples were determined. Linear portions of curve were used to calibrate the readings.

Cortisol (ng/mL)

A microplate EIA kit provided by Accubind (Monobind Inc., Lake Forest, CA-92630, USA, Lot No. 3625-300) was used for quantitative evaluation of serum cortisol concentration. Linear portions of curve were used to calibrate the readings.

Statistical analysis

Data obtained was subjected to two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique (Steel et al., 1997). Duncan Multiple Range (DMR) test was used to explain significant difference (Duncan, 1955) among various studied groups.

Results and Discussion

Results for ANOVA in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats during various stages of Lactation

Data concerning the difference between Lohi sheep and Beetal goats for vitamin E, vitamin C, Triiodothyronine (T3) Thyroxine (T4) and cortisol activities during various stages of lactation were analyzed by two way ANOVA and the results have been shown in Table 1. Sheep and goats groups as well as the interaction between the groups and stages did not differ significantly in Vitamin E and vitamin C. The results for serum T3 and T4 concentrations revealed that both the groups pertaining to different lactation stages as well as groups × stages interaction presented statistically different results (P ≤ 0.01). However, the results concerning cortisol in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats pertaining to different lactation stages were different significantly. However, the results of groups G x S interaction did not show significant results (Table 1).

 

Table 1: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of Vitamin E, C, T3, T4 and Cortisol of Lohi sheep and Beetal goats during various stages of Lactation.

Parameters (F-Value)	Source of Varition
	Groups	Stages	G x S
Vitamin E	0.125 N.S.	138.078**	0.153 N.S.
Vitamin C	0.512 N.S.	317.328**	2.177 N.S.
Triiodothyronin (T3)	14.779**	39.751**	11.184**
Thyroxine (T4)	287.342**	138.298**	49.798**
Cortisol	136.707**	192.347**	0.685 N.S.

**Significance = P ≤ 0.01; N.S. = Non-significant.

 

Results for Mean ± SE in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats during various stages of Lactation

Vitamin E (Vit. E; μmol/L) and vitamin C (Vit. C; μmol/L)

Vitamin E levels in ewes and does were significantly similar during lactation stage-I, II and III. In sheep and goats, vitamin E concentration decreased non-significantly from lactation stage-I to II and then an increase, though non-significant was observed during stage-III. Interaction between sheep and goats groups showed significantly same results among all the stages of lactation. Overall mean vitamin E concentrations in both Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups were significantly the same (Table 2). It had been reported that vitamin E participate in fighting against oxidative stress during postpartum and decreased in lipid peroxidation (Bouwstra et al., 2008). Results of the present study are in consistent with those of Festila et al. (2012) had not discovered difference in vitamin E supplementation in milk production in dairy cows. Konvicná et al. (2015) reported a significant increase in vitamin E concentration with the advancement of lactation.

Vitamin C concentrations were significantly similar among all the stages of lactation. A non-significant increase was observed from stage-I to stage-II which decreased non-significantly during lactation stage-III in both the groups. Interaction between sheep and goats groups was significantly similar among all the stages of lactation. Overall mean Vitamin C concentrations for both sheep and goats groups were significantly the same (Table 2). The findings of present study agree with that of Ognik et al. (2015) who had reported that there was no change in Vitamin C concentration during various stages of lactation. Howida et al. (2015) concluded that vitamin C supplementation enhanced to the adverse effects of oxidative stress and improved milk quality.

Triiodothyronine (T3;ng/mL)and Thyroxine (T4; µg/dL)

Serum triiodothyronine concentration was observed to be significantly different (P ≤ 0.01) during stage-I in Lohi sheep. In Beetal does, significantly different results were observed in lactation stage-I and stage-II. The interaction between ewes and does manifested different results during lactation stage-I and stage-II of lactation. Overall mean T3 concentrations were also significantly different in both Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups (Table 2).

Serum thyroxine level was significantly different in lactation stage-I in Lohi sheep and during lactation stage-III in Beetal goats. The interaction between Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups showed significantly different (P ≤ 0.01) results for T4 concentration during stage-I and stage-II of lactation. Overall mean T4 concentrations were resulted into significantly different values in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups (Table 2). The results of present study are in consistent with Paulikova et al. (2017) and Fiore et al. (2018), concluded a decrease in both T3 and T4 concentrations during lactation. These results are in consistent with resulted into decreased T4 level during lactation.

The reason for low T3 and T4 could be breakdown of fat and protein in mammary tissue (Riis and Madsen, 1985). During early lactation due to limited supply of food (energy malnutrition), T3 and T4 levels decreased probably due to increased metabolism of T3 and T4 in peripheral tissues to inhibit secretary power of thyroid gland (Huszenicza, et al., 2002). However, ALkalby and Mohammad (2013) observed an increase in thyroid hormones during lactation.

Cortisol (ng/mL)

Serum cortisol level during various lactation stages exhibited significantly the same results. A non-significant decrease in cortisol concentration was observed

 

Table 2: Mean ± SE of Vitamin E, Vitamin C, T3, T4 and Cortisol of Lohi sheep and Beetal goats during various stages of Lactation.

PARAMETERS	Lactation Period
	Lactation (Stage I)	Lactation (Stage II)	Lactation (Stage III)	Overall Mean
Vitamin E
Lohi Sheep Beetal Goats	1.40±0.01 1.40±0.01	1.29±0.02 1.30±0.02	1.51±0.01 1.51±0.01	1.40±0.02 1.40±0.02
Vitamin C
Lohi Sheep Beetal Goats	4.03±0.04 3.97±0.04	4.91±0.08 4.74±0.06	3.07±0.08 3.18±0.09	4.00±0.14 3.96±0.12
T3
Lohi Sheep Beetal Goats	1.68±0.05 a 1.45±0.05 b	1.37±0.01 b 1.25±0.01 c	1.33±0.01 bc 1.39±0.02 bc	1.46±0.03 A 1.37±0.02 B
T4
Lohi Sheep Beetal Goats	32.75±0.55 b 39.30±0.52 a	26.55±0.44 d 37.60±0.54 a	27.40±0.28 cd 29.15±0.41 c	28.90±0.57 B 35.35±0.87 A
Cortisol
Lohi Sheep Beetal Goats	3.53±0.09 2.75±0.06	2.58±0.08 1.86±0.10	2.02±0.06 1.41±0.03	2.71±0.12 A 2.01±0.11 B

A-B, a-d; Values in a row (a-d) or column (A-B) with different letters were significantly different (P ≤ 0.01; ANOVA, DMRT).

 

from stage-I of lactation to stage-III in both ewes and does. An interaction between Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups for cortisol concentration demonstrated significantly the same results throughout all the stages of lactation. Although, statistically different results were observed for overall mean cortisol concentrations in both Lohi sheep and Beetal goats groups (Table 2).

Ghanem et al. (2012) and Howida et al. (2015) observed the same non-significant results for cortisol concentration during different stages of lactation in cows. Similarly, ALkalby and Mohammad (2013) had observed a significant decrease in cortisol concentration with the advancement of lactation.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Lactation is the physiological period of increased metabolic demand that could provoke a threat to homeostasis. Variations in vitamins and hormones revealed negative energy balance during lactation and should be consider to improve health, welfare and production of these animals.

Novelty Statement

The study was carried out in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats and the results suggested that helps the farmers for better maintenance and production of their animals and to improve their income.

Author’s Contribution

Sonia Kanwal: Carried out the research work and has been written the first draft of the manuscript.

Muhammad Naeem: Supervised the research work and improved the manuscript.

Zaib Un Nisa: Provided aid during data analyses.

Rabia Farhat: Helped out during sampling process.

Zia Ur Rahman: Provided all the means to make this research possible. All authors read and proved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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