Effects of vitamin A on antioxidant functions, immune functions and production performance in male sika deer (Cervus nippon) during the first antler growth period

AbstractThe present study examined the effects of dietary vitamin A (VA) on antioxidant functions, immune functions and production performance in farmed sika deer. Forty healthy male sika deer (initial body weight (BW): 47.07 ± 4.75 kg; 8 months of age) were randomly assigned to four treatments on the basis of BW. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (containing 330 U/kg VA) supplemented with 0 (control), 2500, 5000 or 10,000 U/kg retinol acetate (500,000 U/g, Rovimix A500, Roche, Basel, Switzerland). The results showed that deer fed a diet supplemented with 5000 U/kg VA had higher (p < .05) average daily gains and gain:feed values than those from the control group. VA supplementation significantly increased (p < .05) glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities and total antioxidant capacity and decreased (p < .05) the concentrations of reactive oxygen species in the serum. Additionally, serum immunoglobulin A, interleukin-2 and soluble CD8 were significantly increased (p < .05) whe...