Effects of β-Sitosterol Supplementation on Performance and Antioxidant Activity in Uda Rams

Background and Objective: Uda rams are an important livestock breed in Nigeria; however, their performance and stress resilience under intensive management can be limited. The β-sitosterol, a natural plant sterol, has been reported to possess antioxidant and stress-modulating properties in animals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary β-sitosterol supplementation on growth performance and antioxidant activity of Uda rams. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Livestock Teaching and Research Farm using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Three dietary levels of β-sitosterol, a control and an oxytetracycline check treatment were used. Feed intake and body weight were recorded for 63 days, after which blood samples were collected for the assessment of stress biomarkers and antioxidant activity. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA at 5% level of significance. Results: No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed among treatments for feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. Rams supplemented with 1500 g/kg diet exhibited higher (p<0.05) total antioxidant capacity (TAC) than those in other treatments, while control and 1000 g/kg β-sitosterol groups showed similar (p>0.05) TAC values. Cortisol levels decreased with increasing β-sitosterol levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of β-sitosterol in Uda rams improved antioxidant status and reduced cortisol levels without negatively affecting growth performance, suggesting its potential as a natural feed additive for stress management in ruminants.