Effects of Compound Yeast Culture on the Intestinal Morphology, Intestinal Function, and Microorganisms of Weaned Lambs

Yeast culture is a safe and environmentally friendly nutritional supplement that improves the antioxidant capacity, immune function, and intestinal health of monogastric animals. This study explored the effects of compound yeast culture and yeast source on the antioxidant capacity, immune function, and intestinal microflora of weaned lambs. Eighteen weaned lambs were randomly assigned to the basal diet (NYC), basal diet supplemented with yeast source (40 g/day; DYC), and basal diet supplemented with compound yeast culture (50 g/day; GYC) groups. There where six replicates per group and one lamb per replicate. The experiment lasted 42 d. The DYC and GYC groups exhibited significantly increased villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05), and the DYC group had reduced crypt depth (P < 0.05); both exhibited significantly increased glucagon-like peptide-2, Insulin-like growth factor 1, and mucin 2 mRNA expression, as well as serum total anti-oxidizing capability, glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities (P < 0.05). The DYC and GYC groups exhibited significantly increased acid phosphatase (ACP) activity (P < 0.05), immunoglobulin G content, secretory immunoglobulin A content, and interleukin-10, transforming growth factor beta, B-cell activating factor, A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), Chemokine ligand 25, Inducible NO synthase, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (plgA) mRNA expression (P < 0.05). The GYC group had significantly increased ACPcontent and APRIL and plgA mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Jejunal microbial markers in the DYC and GYC groups positively correlated with intestinal barrier-related indicators. In conclusion, the compound yeast culture and yeast source equally showed improved antioxidant capacity, immune function, and intestinal health in weaned lambs.