Dietary berberine supplementation improves growth performance, liver-related blood parameters, and antioxidative status of fattening lambs

Abstract

This study determined the effect of berberine (BBR) supplementation on the performance, carcass traits, and antioxidant status of fattening lambs. Twenty-one male Baluchi lambs [three-month-old with 26.5 ± 2.10 kg of body weight (BW), mean ± standard deviation (SD)] were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 7 per group) with different BBR supplementation including 0 g/d (Ctrl), 0.5 g/d (BBR0.5), and 1.0 g/d (BBR1) for 60 days after 14 days of adaptation. On days 0, 30, and 60 lambs were weighed individually and blood samples were collected. Dietary BBR supplementation tended (p = 0.061) to increase dry matter intake (DMI). Also, total weight gain (TWG, p = 0.009) and average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.009) of lambs in both BBR0.5 and BBR1 groups was higher than Ctrl. The lowest plasma triglycerides (TG, p = 0.033) and cholesterol (CHOL, p = 0.046) were for BBR1 followed by the BBR0.5 group, both lower than those in Ctrl. Also, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p = 0.048) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, p = 0.031) were mitigated in BBR1-supplemented lambs compared to Ctrl group. Also, BBR favors the antioxidant status of fattening lambs as indicated by enhanced blood total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) along with depressed malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The hot carcass weight (HCC) increased (p = 0.077) with increasing BBR supplementation, while cold carcass weight (p = 0.495) and dressing BW (p = 0.144) were not affected. In conclusion, BBR positively influenced the growth performance and antioxidant status of fattening lambs, potentially supporting better health and production. Further research is warranted to explore its effects on meat quality and oxidative stability.