Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep
In ruminants, the role of melatonin in the control of reproductive seasonality is well reported, but it is still little known about its action on milk traits and on the immune system. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of melatonin on milk yield and composition, somatic cell count (SCC),...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1904796 |
| _version_ | 1811225565879861248 |
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| author | Giovanni Cosso Maria Consuelo Mura Luisa Pulinas Giulio Curone Daniele Vigo Vincenzo Carcangiu Sebastiano Luridiana |
| author_facet | Giovanni Cosso Maria Consuelo Mura Luisa Pulinas Giulio Curone Daniele Vigo Vincenzo Carcangiu Sebastiano Luridiana |
| author_sort | Giovanni Cosso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In ruminants, the role of melatonin in the control of reproductive seasonality is well reported, but it is still little known about its action on milk traits and on the immune system. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of melatonin on milk yield and composition, somatic cell count (SCC), some cytokine blood concentration and reproductive resumption in sheep. One hundred lactating sheep were allocated to two groups (of 50 sheep each), M (treated with melatonin) and C (controls), and exposed to the rams for 50 d. Time period in days from ram introduction to lambing (TRIL) and litter size were recorded. Every 15 d, from 1 March to 30 April, the individual daily milk yield was registered and milk composition and SCC, were analysed. The levels of Interleukin 2 and 6 (IL-2 and 6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf-α) were evaluated every 15 d. The highest fertility rate (p < .01) and the shortest TRIL (p < .05) was recorded in M group. Milk yield and composition were similar between groups. The somatic cells decreased continuously in the treated ewes (p < .01) and increased continuously in untreated ewes (p < .05). IL-2 and IL-6 increased in M group, although no statistical differences were found between groups. Melatonin administration improved reproductive efficiency, did not affect milk yield and composition and decreased somatic cells. This last effect could help to maintain healthy mammary gland and encourage farmers to reduce the use of drugs against mastitis.Highlights Melatonin is involved in different physiological processes, such as the control of reproductive seasonality, milk production and the immune response. Melatonin administration in Sarda sheep did not modify milk yield and composition, decreased SCC and advanced reproductive resumption in spring. Melatonin could be used to strengthen the sheep immune response in order to reduce the use of drugs for both therapeutic and preventive purposes against mastitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:09:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97f0e2192a004f658e1d579675a10a1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:09:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-97f0e2192a004f658e1d579675a10a1a2022-12-22T03:39:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2021-01-0120163263910.1080/1828051X.2021.19047961904796Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheepGiovanni Cosso0Maria Consuelo Mura1Luisa Pulinas2Giulio Curone3Daniele Vigo4Vincenzo Carcangiu5Sebastiano Luridiana6Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, SassariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, SassariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, SassariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of MilanDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of MilanDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, SassariDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Sassari, SassariIn ruminants, the role of melatonin in the control of reproductive seasonality is well reported, but it is still little known about its action on milk traits and on the immune system. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of melatonin on milk yield and composition, somatic cell count (SCC), some cytokine blood concentration and reproductive resumption in sheep. One hundred lactating sheep were allocated to two groups (of 50 sheep each), M (treated with melatonin) and C (controls), and exposed to the rams for 50 d. Time period in days from ram introduction to lambing (TRIL) and litter size were recorded. Every 15 d, from 1 March to 30 April, the individual daily milk yield was registered and milk composition and SCC, were analysed. The levels of Interleukin 2 and 6 (IL-2 and 6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf-α) were evaluated every 15 d. The highest fertility rate (p < .01) and the shortest TRIL (p < .05) was recorded in M group. Milk yield and composition were similar between groups. The somatic cells decreased continuously in the treated ewes (p < .01) and increased continuously in untreated ewes (p < .05). IL-2 and IL-6 increased in M group, although no statistical differences were found between groups. Melatonin administration improved reproductive efficiency, did not affect milk yield and composition and decreased somatic cells. This last effect could help to maintain healthy mammary gland and encourage farmers to reduce the use of drugs against mastitis.Highlights Melatonin is involved in different physiological processes, such as the control of reproductive seasonality, milk production and the immune response. Melatonin administration in Sarda sheep did not modify milk yield and composition, decreased SCC and advanced reproductive resumption in spring. Melatonin could be used to strengthen the sheep immune response in order to reduce the use of drugs for both therapeutic and preventive purposes against mastitis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1904796melatonin treatmentreproductive activitymilk traitssccsarda ewes |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Cosso Maria Consuelo Mura Luisa Pulinas Giulio Curone Daniele Vigo Vincenzo Carcangiu Sebastiano Luridiana Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep Italian Journal of Animal Science melatonin treatment reproductive activity milk traits scc sarda ewes |
| title | Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep |
| title_full | Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep |
| title_fullStr | Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep |
| title_short | Effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits, reproductive performance and immune response in Sarda dairy sheep |
| title_sort | effects of melatonin treatment on milk traits reproductive performance and immune response in sarda dairy sheep |
| topic | melatonin treatment reproductive activity milk traits scc sarda ewes |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1904796 |
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