Improving lambs’ temperament, performance, and fecundity under three different housing conditions via oxidative stress reduction, metabolic and growth genes regulation by turmeric supplementation

Abstract Background Improvement of performance, temperament, and fecundity of lambs using medicinal plants is considered a recent approach in the sheep industry. Climate change, especially in non-controlled houses, affects animals' production. Thus, the current study aimed to determine how turmeric (TU) affected the temperament, performance, and lamb fecundity under three different housing conditions. Thirty-six Ossimi male lambs (about 6 months of age) were randomly divided into three groups under three different housing conditions (n = 12; semi-shaded building, fully shaded building, and semi-shaded building with trees); in each house lambs were subdivided into non-treated (n = 6) and treated (n = 6; 1 g TU \lamb\day) groups for 3 months. Performance and temperament scoring have been recorded. Various biochemical parameters (total protein, glucose and oxidative damage), gene expression of metabolic function and growth indicators (insulin growth factor: IGF-1, leptin: LEP, and myostatin: MSTN), and testosterone level were measured. Results The obtained data showed that TU improved the lambs' temperament in SSB-T and FSB-T lambs; lambs' weight gain enhanced in treated lambs in all houses in the 3rd month. The results of biochemical parameters showed fluctuations throughout the experiment; total protein was elevated in FSB-NT lambs in the 3rd month, while glucose was elevated in SSB + T-NT in the 1st and 2nd month and then decreased in the 3rd month. The MDA elevated in FSB-T and SSB + T-T in the 2nd and 3rd month. TU supplementation elevated the reduced testosterone level in the SSB-T lambs and resulted in significant upregulation of IGF1, and LEP; however, MSTN downregulated in the treated lambs among all housing systems. Conclusion Data suggested TU improved lambs' growth and tempered in all houses and ameliorated the recorded reduction in testosterone levels in the SSB house which is commonly used in sheep and upregulated the IGF1 and LEP gene levels. Hence, the use of TU as a feed additive improved lambs' growth.