Immunological and plasma antioxidant response following protection of newborn lambs from cold by umbrella-type housing and lamb-jacket in winter

ABSTRACT

Cold stress during peak winter in semi-arid tropic affects productivity in newborn lambs often causing mortality. In the present study, effects of umbrella-type housing and lamb-jacket on plasma antioxidant defence and immune response in newborn lambs were investigated. Thirty lambs of one week age were randomly and equally divided into three groups: G1, G2 and G3. At night, G1 lambs were put in a conventional shed having asbestos roof, boundaries made of brick and wire-net fence that was covered with canvas curtain. G2 lambs were housed similar to G1 and each lamb was put on with lamb-jacket designed to cover trunk area. G3 lambs were put in umbrella-type incubator made of cotton fabric and a layer of coarse wool. During daytime, all the lambs were let loose in a common enclosure and allowed free suckling. Overall, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma was higher (p < 0.05) in G3 compared to G1; however, total oxidative stress (TOS) was similar (p > 0.05) among the groups. There was significant effect of group × day on both TAC and TOS. On day 30, TAC was significantly higher, while TOS was lower in both G2 and G3 compared to G1. The humoral immune response was higher (p < 0.05) in G3 compared to G1. In conclusion, protection of newborn lambs from cold stress by use of lamb-jacket and umbrella-type housing increased the plasma antioxidant defence as well as humoral immune response.

KEYWORDS:

• Cold stress
• shelter management
• plasma antioxidants
• immune response
• lamb

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR-C.S.W.R.I., Avikanagar, India, for providing the necessary facilities to carry out the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by ICAR, New Delhi, under the NICRA project.