Two Different Dietary Antioxidants: Blood Immune Parameters and Performance in Sanjabi Suckling lambs

A total of 24 male and female Sanjabi suckling lambs with an average weight of 4.2 kg at birth day were used in a 90-day trial period using randomized complete block design for evaluation of two dietary antioxidants. The lambs were received forage and concentrate from the second week of birth in addition to maternal milk. The experimental diets included control (milk and starter), control + 10% lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and control + one tablet CoQ10 (30 mg). Every 30 day of experiment blood samples were drawn from jugular vein to measure some hematological and enzymatic parameters. No significant difference was observed among treatments for daily milk, dry matter intake and performance of lambs. Hematocrit was not affected due to lemon balm but it was increased (P<0.05) by CoQ10. Diets containing antioxidants increased the total white blood cells compared to control (P<0.05); but monocytes and basophils did not alter these parameters. Lemon balm reduced the lymphocytes and increased neutrophils while CoQ10 did not influence these two parameters. Eosinophil in blood samples of lambs received Lemon balm or CoQ10 were more than that of control (P<0.05). The concentrations of glutathione peroxidase, immunoglobulin-G and total antioxidant capacity were not affected by treatments, but lemon balm supplementation decreased (P<0.05) malondialdehyde index. The results of this experiment showed, the use of lemon balm in 10% of diet as well as 30 mg/day of coQ10 in suckling lambs’ diet improved immune system, however no significant changes observed in the performance of the lambs.