PSI-1 - Assessing the impact of hempseed meal supplementation on inflammatory cytokine concentrations in Boer X Spanish intact male goats

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hempseed meal (HSM) supplementation on the level of inflammatory cytokines in intact male goats. Effect on the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines; interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines; interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 10 (IL10) were evaluated via chicken-ovalbumin challenge. Thirty-six Boer x Spanish intact male goats, 10 to 11 months of age and bodyweight of 44.1 ± 3.8 kg, were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental diets (n = 9 goats/diet): 0% (control), 10%, 20%, and 30% HSM diets and fed ad-libitum for 60 days. Experimental diets were formulated as total mixed ration (TMR), and the nutrient content of each diet was formulated to be iso-nitrogenous (18% crude protein) and to meet or exceed the nutrient requirement of breeding male goats. At day 46, goats were injected subcutaneously with chicken ovalbumin (2.5 mg) prepared in saline solution and alhydrogel as an adjuvant. On 14 days of post-injection, serum samples were collected and analyzed for cytokines level using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test using R version 4.2.1. Results show no significant difference (p > 0.05) among the experimental groups in terms of studied pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ) as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) levels (table 1). Results indicate that the inclusion of HSM up to 30 % in the diet does not affect the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in intact male goats. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of HSM supplementation on inflammatory response in goats.