# Maternal Tributyrin Supplementation During the Perinatal Period Is Associated with Improved Ewe Milk Quality and Lamb Growth Performance, Immunity, and Antioxidant Status

## TL;DR

Adding tributyrin to the diet of undernourished pregnant sheep improves milk quality and lamb growth, immunity, and antioxidant levels.

## Contribution

This study shows that tributyrin supplementation in undernourished ewes enhances offspring health and growth under negative energy balance.

## Key findings

- Tributyrin increased milk fat and colostrum fat yield in perinatal ewes.
- Lambs from supplemented ewes had better growth and higher serum triglyceride and glucose levels.
- Lambs showed reduced inflammation and improved antioxidant capacity.

## Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of dietary tributyrin supplementation in perinatal ewes experiencing energy deficiency and its association with offspring health and growth. The results indicated that tributyrin supplementation was associated with improved milk nutritional characteristics and increased growth performance in lambs, along with more favorable energy-related blood metabolic profiles. In addition, lambs from supplemented ewes showed lower levels of inflammatory indicators and higher antioxidant capacity. Within the limitations of the present experimental design, these findings suggest that tributyrin supplementation may contribute to supporting metabolic adaptation, immune function, and growth in lambs under NEB conditions.

This study investigated the effects of tributyrin supplementation on the immune and antioxidant status of lambs born to perinatal Hu ewes with negative energy balance (NEB) at 75%. Twenty healthy Hu ewes (average body weight 45.00 ± 5.00 kg) with similar body condition score, pregnant for 100 days with twin lambs, were randomly allocated into two groups: NEB group and 0.5% tributyrin supplementation group (TB). Lambs were artificially fed with milk from their respective maternal groups for 42 days and were classified as L-NEB (n = 20) and L-TB (n = 20). The experimental period lasted from 40 days before delivery to 42 days after delivery. At 42 days of age, five male lambs from each group were randomly selected and euthanized for analysis. Tributyrin supplementation significantly increased fat-corrected milk yield, milk fat content, and colostrum fat yield in perinatal ewes (p < 0.01). Lambs in the L-TB group exhibited improved growth performance compared with L-NEB lambs (p < 0.05). Serum triglyceride concentration at 7 days of age was 68.4% higher, and serum triglyceride and glucose concentrations at 42 days of age were 42.9% and 13.9% higher, respectively, in the L-TB group than in the L-NEB group (p < 0.05). In addition, the L-TB group showed a 39.2% lower serum IL-1β concentration at 7 days and significantly downregulated hepatic IL-8 mRNA expression at 42 days, together with enhanced antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary tributyrin supplementation at 0.5% in perinatal undernourished ewes, applied under a controlled NEB feeding regimen, may improve milk composition and, consequently, enhance growth performance, immune status, and antioxidant capacity in lambs.