Effects of probiotic and yeast extract supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and growth in weaning Saanen kids

Abstract To determine the effects of supplementation of probiotics and yeast extract on the metabolic, immune, and oxidative status of the animals during weaning stress, 40 Sannen goat kids were randomly allocated to 4 experimental treatments of probiotic, yeast cell wall extract, probiotic + Yeast extract, and control at 21 days before the expected weaning time. Four blood samples were collected at 21 days pre-weaning, 2 days post-weaning (weaning time), 7 days post-weaning, and 21 post-weaning. Average concentration of Triiodothyronine, thyroxine, total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), serum adenosine deaminase, nitric oxide (NO), Ferritin, glucose, cortisol, triglyceride, NEFA, BHBA, and body-weight was measured. Cortisol concentration (P = 0.02) increased at the weaning time compared to the third sampling time. Treatment tends to (P = 0.10) affect the cortisol concentration in animals treated with probiotics. Concentration of TAC was higher at weaning time compared to the third (P < 0.01) and fourth (P < 0.01) sampling times. Concentration of NO was (P < 0.01) higher in the third sampling time compared to the first sampling time. Treatment affect the concentration of NEFA (P < 0.01) and BHBA (P < 0.01), but sampling time did not affect the NEFA (P = 0.92) and BHBA (P = 0.90) concentration. Increase in TAC and NO at weaning time may indicate an increase in the oxidative processes. Decrease in NEFA and BHBA concentrations may indicate an improvement in animals' metabolic status due to probiotics and yeast extract administration.