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Periparturient antioxidant enzymes, haematological profile and milk production of dairy cows supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of feeding transition Holstein cows with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on antioxidant enzymes, haematological profile and milk production. Forty-eight pregnant Holstein cows received increasing levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) at M0: Control; M30: 8.33 g MOLM /100 kg BW and M60: 16.66 g MOLM /100 kg BW. Blood samples were collected to determine haematology, antioxidant enzymes and biochemistry. Milk was sampled to determine yield, composition, antioxidant status (MTAC) and somatic cell counts (SCC). White blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) were highest in M60 group than those in M0 (P = 0.02) and (P = 0.03) respectively. Cows in M60 treatment group had higher (P < 0.01) serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (STAC) than M30 and M0 treatment groups. Although, milk yield and body weight were not (P > 0.05) affected by treatment, cows in M60 group were recorded with the highest milk fat (P < 0.01), protein (P = 0.01) and MTAC (P < 0.01) values. In conclusion, supplementing MOLM (M60) to transition dairy cows was shown to improve blood biochemistry, antioxidant status and udder health. Moreover, milk composition and milk antioxidant capacity but not milk yield improved with supplementation of MOLM (M60).
... Prepartum nutritional status in the last trimester has a positive effect on colostrum yield and quality (Quigley and Drewry, 1998;Aragona et al., 2016;Dunn et al., 2017). Prepartum nutritional status in dairy cows was also reported to be improvable through supplementation of medicinal herbs (Benchaar et al., 2008;Kholif et al., 2016;Falowo et al., 2018;Kekana et al., 2020). Herbal supplements possess selective antibacterial activity that inhibits degradation of protein in the rumen, thereby increasing the intestinal supply of AA to the animal host (Benchaar et al., 2008;Kholif et al., 2016;Falowo et al., 2018). ...
... Herbal plants such as Moringa oleifera have been extensively investigated in ruminants' nutrition because of their relatively high biomass yield, high nutritional quality, and low cost of production (Kekana, 2014;Kholif et al., 2016;Falowo et al., 2018;Kekana et al., 2019Kekana et al., , 2020Kekana et al., , 2021. Moringa oleifera (family Moringaceae) is an evergreen tree fodder and a promising alternative nutrient source in diets for ruminants and its by-products (Falowo et al., 2018). ...
... Moringa oleifera (family Moringaceae) is an evergreen tree fodder and a promising alternative nutrient source in diets for ruminants and its by-products (Falowo et al., 2018). Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) possess high antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant secondary bioactive compounds that improved feed utilization, milk yield, and composition in ruminants at various levels (Mendieta-Araica et al., 2011;Khalel et al., 2014;Kholif et al., 2016;Dong et al., 2019;Kekana et al., 2020Kekana et al., , 2021. Furthermore, MOLM is rich in antioxidant flavonoids (53.3 g quercetin equivalent/kg), myricetin (1.08 g/kg DM), quercetin (2.22 g/kg DM), and total phenolic (72.2 g; Kekana et al., 2020) in addition to the antioxidant nutrients (Falowo et al., 2018;Afzal et al., 2021). ...
The influence of supplementing Moringa olifeira leaf meal (MOLM) to Holstein cows on (1) colostrum yield and quality and (2) immunoglobulin (IgG) absorption in dairy calves during the colostrum stage was evaluated in the study. Thirty-two pregnant Holstein cows were blocked by weight and expected day of calving and randomly assigned to one of 2 treatments during a 6-wk dry period: (1) no additive (CON) or (2) 16.66 g of MOLM/100 kg of body weight (MOLM). Cows were dosed daily from d −35 to 0 relative to calving. All cows received a dry period total mixed ration (TMR). At calving, calves were weighed immediately after birth, and blood was sampled before receiving colostrum from their respective dams. Calves received their first colostrum meal within 2.5 h of birth. Calves received their first and second feedings of colostrum from the first-harvest colostrum. Cows' blood was sampled to determine IgG, whereas calves were blood sampled to determine the IgG, glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, and malondialdehyde. Colostrum composition (protein, fat, lactose, total solids, ash, and metabolizable energy) was also determined. The results of the study showed that MOLM did not affect dry matter intake in dams, body weight change, body condition score, colostrum yield, or calf birth weight. The colostrum harvested from MOLM-fed cows was higher in composition (fat, protein lactose, and total solids). Colostrum IgG was greater from cows that received MOLM compared with control from all 6 colostrum harvests. Calves born to MOLM-fed cows were characterized by higher blood glucose whereas lipid peroxidation (nonesterified fatty acids and malondialdehyde) was greatly reduced. Although the level of 16.6 g of MOLM/100 kg of BW did not affect the dam's body weight, calf birth weight and colostrum yield, higher quality colostrum, and higher IgG absorption in newborn calves could be achieved when that MOLM level is supplemented to dairy cows as late as 5 wk prepartum. The increased glucose with reduced lipid peroxidation after receiving maternal MOLM suggests that MOLM can be used as a feed additive not only to improve dams' immunity but to also improve health in early days of life in dairy calf.
... Several researchers (Khalel et al., 2014;Kholif et al., 2016;Falowo et al., 2018;Kekana et al., 2019Kekana et al., , 2020 suggested synthetic anti-oxidants as alternatives to minimize the effects of ROS with different levels of success. From an organic perspective, Moringa oleifera has attracted attention because of the high concentrations of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties inferred by flavonoids (Kholif et al., 2016;Dong et al., 2018;Falowo et al., 2018). ...
... Moreover, the leaves of MO are rich in minerals (Ca, K, Zn, Mg, Fe, and Cu) and vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E) (Mbikay, 2012) and are preferentially browsed by many species of birds, possibly because of these attributes (Nherera-Chokuda, 2021, personal observation). The potential of MO leaves as immunity boosters in mature cows and goats has been noted (Kekana et al., 2019;Kekana et al., 2020;Kholif et al., 2016). However, its effects on the maintenance of oxidative stress, energy balance, health, and growth performance in calves have not been fully investigated. ...
... The mixture was returned to the milk feeding bucket and fed to each calf from day 4 to 42 days old. The composition of MOLM was as described in Kekana et al. (2020) and the levels were adjusted weekly to maintain 8.33/100 kg and 16.66/100 kg BW. ...
The study evaluated the effects of supplements of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on blood biochemistry and growth of pre-weaned Holstein calves (n = 48). Four-day-old calves were blocked (based on order of birth and birth weight) and randomly allocated to three dietary treatments, namely M0: unsupplemented control, M30: supplemented with 8.33 g MOLM /100 kg bodyweight (BW), and M60: supplemented with 16.66 g MOLM /100 kg BW. The experiment ended when the calves were 42 days old. The MOLM was diluted in the milk of the morning feeding session. Feed intake, faecal score, and body temperature were recorded daily. Bodyweight and body measurements were taken weekly, and blood samples were collected at the same time. Starter dry matter intake (DMI) for the M60 group was higher than for M0 group with a significant week effect. Calves in M60 had higher final bodyweight and body measurements than M0 and M30. Similar trends were observed for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and serum antioxidant activity (SAOA). Immunoglobulin G (Ig) levels increased with the age of calves in both M30 and M60 groups, with the increase being progressively larger with the level of MOLM supplementation. Calves in the M60 group had fewer days of diarrhoea. Supplementation of MOLM supplied secondary metabolites and nutrients that improved feed utilization and later stimulated growth, increased enzymatic antioxidants, and reduced diarrhoeal incidence in pre-weaned calves. Dilution of MOLM by as little as 16.66 g/100 kg BW in the milk for dairy calves can be recommended.
... The current findings are consistent with those reported by Reyes-Sanchez et al. (2006b) who suggested that cows supplemented with MO had higher levels of milk fat and CP than cows given a control diet. The results agree with Khalel et al. (2014); Imran et al. (2016);Tadeo et al. (2019); Dhillod et al. (2022); Kekana et al. (2020) found increased milk protein and fat contents after addition of MO to dairy cows' ration. Dhillod et al. (2022) found a significantly higher milk lactose (%) in milk of buffalo fed ration supplemented with MO than the control group. ...
... Moreover, milk yield and composition in ewes and buffaloes, were also improved following addition of MO to diet (Aguirre et al., 2020;Arshad et al., 2022). The MO has high contents of secondary bioactive antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant compounds benefited ruminant feed utilization, milk production, and composition at various levels (Khalel et al., 2014;Kholif et al., 2016;Dong et al., 2019;Kekana et al., 2020Kekana et al., , 2021. Additionally, Nadir et al. (2005) demonstrated that adding Moringa as a protein supplement to meals enhanced DM consumption and boosted milk production without changing the composition of the milk. ...
A total of 27 healthy Friesian cows with an average of 540±20.5 kg body weight (BW) was used in this study to investigate the effect of supplemented Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves by different levels on digestibility, milk production and its composition, and feed efficiency of Friesian cows. Cows were divided into three groups and fed a basal ration without supplementation of MO leaves and served as a control group (T1), and supplemented with MO leaves by 40 and 60 g/cow/day in the 2nd group (T2) and the 3rd group (T3), respectively starting from 10 days until 180 days of postpartum. The average daily feed intake was not significant. Cows in T2 and T3 were significantly (P<0.05) higher digestibility coefficients of all parameters compared with T1. Concentrations of protein and albumin in blood plasma were highest significantly and total lipid, cholesterol and urea-N concentrations were lowest significantly with increasing the level of MO leaves in T2 and T3 than in T1. Average daily actual milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk yield (FCMY), fat percentage and fat yield were significantly increased in T3 and T2 compared with T1. Contents of protein, lactose, total solids and solids not fat in milk were not significant. Cows supplemented with 60 g of MO leaves in T3 was significantly the best economic efficiency, followed by T2 and T1. It was determined that feeding 60 g of MO leaves to Friesian cows resulted in better digestibility, blood plasma parameters, milk output and composition, and feed economic efficiency.
... Moringa has powerful antibacterial and antifungal characteristics that make it a valuable therapeutic plant (Nickon et al., 2003). Kekana et al. (2020) studied that haematological parameters in cows were significantly influenced by MOLM supplementation during peripartum. Yusuf et al. (2018) found MOLM did not affect PCV, RBC, or Hb. ...
... The overall mean basophils concentrations (%) were 0.53, 0.48 and 0.46 in treatment groups T 1 , T 2 and T 3, respectively. Kekana et al. (2020) studied that peripartum supplementation of MOLM had a positive effect on haematological parameters. The statistical analysis of the data revealed that most of hematological parameters viz. ...
The present investigation has been undertaken to study the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on haematology
and biochemical parameters of Murrah buffaloes reared under loose housing system. Eighteen lactating Murrah buffaloes were
assigned to three dietary treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) resulting in six lactating buffaloes per treatment based on parity following factorial completely randomized design. The experiment was conducted for a period from 21 days before calving (pre-partum) to 5 months of lactation (postpartum) to find the effect of supplementation of moringa in following treatments,
namely, T1 (control) - Feeding as per ICAR standards (2013), T2
- 75 g MOLM/animal/day in addition to control feeding and
T3 - Feeding as per ICAR standards (2013) + 150 g MOLM/animal/day in addition to control feeding. The findings of study revealed that haematological parameters viz. haemoglobin (g/dl) WBC, monocytes (%), basophils (%), eosinophils (%) levels
of T3 treatment group were higher than T2
and T3 but did not differ significantly among various treatment groups. Lymphocytes level of T3 treatment group was significantly higher than T1 and but did not differ significantly with T2 treatment group. SGOT concentration (IU/L), SGPT concentration (IU/L), Plasma cholesterol concentration (mg/dl) and Plasma iron concentration (µg/dl) were better in supplemented groups but did not show any significant difference in different treatment groups.
... Immunity functions and antioxidant activity of animals and humans could be improved through the use of feed additives Mohammed 2013, 2014 a,b;Mohammed 2019;Ali et al., 2021;Ademosun et al., 2019Ademosun et al., , 2022. Bioactive compounds in M. oleifera have been shown to enhance immunity functions, antioxidant activities, and tissue protection in mammals (Kekana et al., 2020;Wen et al., 2022). Wen et al. (2022) examined M. oleifera polysaccharide effects on immune indices of serum and organs in addition to colonic microflora of mice. ...
... They indicated that M. oleifera polysaccharide gave a positive effect on immune performance and intestinal health. Kekana et al. (2020) investigated the effect of M. oleifera meal to transition Holstein cows on antioxidant enzymes. The effects of Moringa and its extract on immunity functions and antioxidant activities are attributed to Moringa polyphenols extract, which might have immunomodulatory properties (Adjei-Fremah et al., 2019). ...
Nutritional supplements of Moringa oleifera to animals are considered one of the aids for improving health and production. M. oleifera leaves, seeds, and extracts are administered to animals for therapeutic and nutritional purposes. The effects of using M. oleifera and its extracts on animals’ production and health have shown beneficial effects in several studies. The roles of M. oleifera and its extracts on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and enzyme activities, growth and reproductive performances, antioxidants, and milk production and composition have been well documented. M. oleifera contains valuable chemical constituents such as proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins,
and beta-carotene. The M. oleifera composition varies depending on nutrient availability for production, species, and lifespan of trees. Extracts of leaves and seeds were used for the production of invaluable compounds. Knowledge of M. oleifera impacts on productive, reproductive, and therapeutic performances is more fragmentary and the present review
is compiled and discussed owing to the importance of M. oleifera and its purified compounds.
... The MO has been reported to improve reproductive performance and serum antioxidant status during pregnancy in mice (17). Previous studies provided information about the impact of MO on lactation performance and milk quality in dairy cows and goats (9,18). However, there is little information about dietary supplementation impacts of MO on early pregnancy stress in goats. ...
... The successful implantation of an embryo on the endometrium of the uterus is dependent on SOD, POD, and CAT activities (49). The improvement in the enzymatic antioxidant defense system was also observed in rabbits, dairy cows, and sows following Moringa leaf supplementation in different proportions (18,50,51). ...
This study investigated the effects of supplementing different levels of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) on antioxidant status and blood biochemical indices during early gestation in Beetal goats. A total of 30 goats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10) comprising control (basal diet without MOLP), the 1.6% MOLP supplemented group (basal diet + 1.6% MOLP), and the 3.2% MOLP supplemented group (basal diet + 3.2% MOLP). The experiment started 5 days before estrus synchronization and lasted till day 60 of gestation. The MOLP significantly increased plasma flavonoids in 1.6% as well as 3.2% supplemented group on days 40 and 60 of pregnancy, while total phenolic contents were observed to be higher in the 3.2% MOLP supplemented group throughout the experiment in comparison with the control group. The supplementation improved plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) in contrast to the control group. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were enhanced in both supplemented groups, whereas catalase (CAT) activity was noticed to be significantly high in the 3.2% MOLP supplemented group. The protein contents were significantly elevated with 1.6 and 3.2% supplementation levels from day 40 to day 60 of the experiment. Plasma sugar level, carotenoids, progesterone profile, and hydrolytic (protease and amylase) enzymes activities were improved only when supplemented with 3.2% MOLP. The findings suggest that supplementing with 3.2% MOLP provides beneficial effects on early pregnancy stress in Beetal goats.
... This might be attributed to the beneficial synergistic interactions between the high antioxidant nutrients, phenolic compounds and flavonoids found in Moringa oleifera leaves. The functional antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolics, Vitamin E and Se found in Moringa oleifera leaves also induce anti-inflammation activities in the mammary gland (Kekana et al., 2020). Lactating dairy cows given a flavonoids-rich herbal supplement showed a decrease in the incidence of mastitis. ...
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) dry leaf powder supplementation on milk yield, composition and milk quality of lactating Rathi cows, as well as the economic impact of this intervention. Fifteen cows were selected from the herd of Rathi cattle of Livestock Research Station Bikaner, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Methods: The animals were divided into three treatment groups based on nearness of their body weight, parity and lactation stage. Cows were fed with Moringa oleifera leaf powder supplement at the levels of 0 g (control, T0), 10 g (T1) and (T2) 20 g per 100 kg bw/cow/day for 60 days (14 days of adjustment and 46 days of sampling period). Daily milk yield was recorded and samples were taken at every 7 day interval. Result: The results of the study indicated that the milk fat, lactose, solid not fat and total solids per cent were found significantly higher (P less than 0.01), while lower somatic cell count (P less than 0.05) reported in the supplemented groups when compared with control group. No significant difference was observed in milk yield and milk protein in the moringa supplemented groups. The treatment groups supplemented with moringa also had higher economic efficiency.
... Analogous to the findings of the present study, Zeng et al. (2018) revealed that MO silage had no significant effects on the serum concentrations of glucose in cows (P > 0.05). Similarly, Kekana et al. (2020) found that blood glucose levels increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing levels of Moringa in the diet of lactating cows. Kholif et al. (2018) revealed that supplementation of ration with M. oleifera leaf to replace 75% dry matter of berseem clover can improve feed utilization in Nubian goats. ...
... The use of M. oleifera leaves for animal feed in ruminants was described by Nouman et al. (2014), which improved microbial protein production in the rumen. M. oleifera leaves 's effects on the productivity and quality of milk produced by cows and goats have been the subject of numerous studies (Kekana et al., 2020). According to Al-Juhaimi et al. (2022), M. oleifera leaves enhance goats' immune systems and oxidative state using bioactive composites. ...
Investigating alternative protein sources for ruminants in tropical regions is crucial due to distinct climatic conditions and limited resources. Scientists, acknowledging the challenges, are exploring locally accessible alternatives to develop cost-effective and sustainable protein supplements for ruminant nutrition, emphasizing the importance of understanding the nutritional composition for advancing livestock husbandry sustainability. The aim of this research is to elucidate alternative local protein sources for ruminants in tropical areas and assess their effectiveness in promoting sustainable production and enhancing ruminant nutrition. Protein feed sources are essential for providing amino acids to animals and producing animal products such as meat, milk, and wool. Inadequate protein in animal feed may have a detrimental impact on rumen fermentation and animal output. Therefore, alternative protein sources have received increased attention in order to replace the main protein source. The alternative protein sources in this review were divided into five categories: agricultural biomass, fodder shrubs, biological protein and plant weeds, insect protein and agro-industry biomass. Furthermore, plant secondary compounds found in alternative protein sources might be used to modulate rumen fermentation and improve animal performance. By focusing on regional sources of protein, feed costs are reduced while availability is raised. Based on this analysis, it can be concluded that there are a number of alternative protein sources that might be used in place of primary protein sources and that they could support ruminant production in the face of several animal feed crises. However, the potential use of any protein source should be assessed in light of the country’s availability and animal production practices.
... For ruminants, Moringa leaves are good source of protein and acts as a good substitute of rapeseed and soybean meals (Soliva et al., 2005). Supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal to dairy animals has been reported to increase their milk production (Kekana et al., 2020). Moringa oleifera leaf powder block supplementation @ 500 g/cow/day for 21 days has been reported to increase milk yield from 11.51 to 14.25 litres/head/day (Rika et al., 2020). ...
... Similarly, in the present study, erythrocytic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were also higher in ewes fed Moringa oleifera leaves containing concentrate pellets than control. Enhancement of enzymatic antioxidants was also observed in dairy cattle and rabbits with Moringa leaf meal supplementation at different levels (Sun et al. 2018;Kekana et al. 2020). Moreover, in accordance with the present results, Paul et al. (2019) also reported increased plasma superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in lambs with time duration of thermal stress as a mechanism to maintain normal physiological processes. ...
A feeding trial was conducted for a period of 60 days during extreme summer months to observe the effect of supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaves containing concentrate pellets on nutrient utilization, antioxidant status, and reproductive performance in Avishaan ewes reared under semi-arid condition. Forty adult non-pregnant cyclic ewes (2–3 years, 31.8 ± 0.81 kg body weight) were selected and randomly allocated into 2 groups of 20 animals each, viz., G-I (control) and G-II (treatment). The ewes were grazed on natural pasture for 8 h, offered ad libitumCenchrus ciliaris hay after grazing and concentrate pellets @ 300 g/animal/day. The ewes in G-I were offered conventional concentrate pellets, whereas G-II ewes were offered concentrate pellets containing 15% Moringa leaves. The mean temperature humidity index during the period of study was 27.5 ± 0.3 and 34.6 ± 0.4 at 0700 h and 1400 h, respectively, indicating severe heat stress. Nutrient intake and utilization were comparable between the two groups. The antioxidant status was higher in G-II ewes as the values of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were higher (P < 0.05) in G-II ewes compared to G-I. The conception rate was higher (100%) in G-II ewes than G-I ewes (70%). Multiple birth percentage was 77.8% in G-II ewes, and it was comparable with the herd average of Avishaan (74.7%). However, ewes in G-I group exhibited a marked decline in multiple birth percentage (28.6%) than the normal herd average. Hence, it can be concluded that inclusion of Moringaoleifera leaves in feeding of prolific Avishaan ewes improved their antioxidant status resulting in optimum reproductive performance during stressful summer months.
... Nouman et al. [11] described the usage of ML for animal feed in ruminants, leading to improvements in microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Numerous studies have been conducted that provided information on the effects of ML on the performance and quality of milk in goats and cows [12]. Al-Juhaimi et al. [13] reported that ML improved the immune system and oxidative status in goats through bioactive composites. ...
The development of different innovative feed resources for livestock is important to provide the essential nutrients and diminish the emission of greenhouse gases. The purpose of the present experiment was to study the response of replacing concentrate with Moringa oleifera leaves in terms of the nutrient intake, digestibility, enteric methane emissions, and performance of goat kids with a berseem-fodder-based diet under different roughage (R)-to-concentrate (C) ratios. Twenty-four goat kids (3 months of age) were distributed into four groups of six animals each, using a randomized block design (RBD). Kids of Group I (control) were fed a basal diet with 70R:30C without any tree leaf supplementation. Group II kids were fed with 60R:40C, where 10% of the concentrate mix was replaced with Moringa leaf (ML powder). In Group III, kids were fed with 70R:30C with 20% ML replacement. In Group IV, kids were fed with 80R:20C with 20% ML replacement. A metabolic trial was conducted after 180 days of feeding to assess the impact of ML on blood metabolites, antioxidant status, immunity parameters, and enteric methane emissions. The results revealed that dry matter digestibility, organic matter, and NDF were better (p < 0.05) in ML-treated kids (GII and GIII) compared to GI. Feed conversion and average daily gain were also enhanced (p < 0.05) in the treated groups as compared to controls. Total blood protein and albumin were increased in GII and GIII kids compared to GI. Plasma cholesterol levels were decreased (p < 0.001) in GII, GIII, and GIV as compared to GI. Glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities were also enhanced in GII, GIII, and GIV compared to controls. ML supplementation improved cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity responses in goat kids. Enteric methane emissions decreased in the treated groups as compared to the controls. Moringa oleifera leaf may be used up to the level of 10–20% in concentrate mixes to improve digestibility, blood biochemical parameters, immunity status, and antioxidant activity in goat kids. Supplementation of ML not only enhanced the digestion and health of goat kids, but also decreased their methane emissions.
... [ [219][220][221] Ganoderma lucidum Ganodermataceae It is a type of mushroom that has been used for years throughout Asia and it is known for the anti-oxidative properties. ...
Background
The review aims to summarize the most important and common natural antioxidants and their resources from medicinal plants, as the vast majority in the world have always applied medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Keywords were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science, as well as the search engine Google Scholar.
Main body
Important traditional medicinal plants with antioxidant activities in China are Asparagus, bindii, blueberries, barberry fruit, borage, calendula, camellia, coriander, cumin, Chinese bayberry, Chinese bitter melon, Chinese cabbage, Chinese cherry, Chinese jujube, Chinese olive, pomegranate, Chinese rose tea, Chinese toon, Chinese watermelon, black tea, green tea, knotweed, Chinese quince, Chinese rhubarb, pomegranate, sumac, thyme, wolfberry, dendrobium, drumstick tree, rosemary, black Zira, rose, Fiscus species, ginger, ginkgo, goji berry, grape, Jerusalem thorn, jujube, kiwifruit seed oil, and liquorice root.
Conclusion
The main derived exogenous natural antioxidants are derived from medicinal plants, fruits, foods, flowers, and traditional herbal medicines. Among various medicinal plants, the medicinal plants common in Asian traditional medicine have shown enormous potential as great sources of natural antioxidants. Polyphenols, and some other secondary bioactive compounds like anthocyanins, isoflavones, pterostilbene, resveratol, quercetin and catechins have shown potent antioxidant activity.
... [ [219][220][221] ...
The review aims to summarize the major and dominant natural antioxidants and their resources from medicinal and herbal plants with antiviral, anti-inflammation and antimicrobial activities. For this review manuscript, online databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct, were searched for papers published from 1960 to November, 2021. Search terms consisted of “medicinal plants”, “traditional Iranian medicine”, “traditional Persian medicine”, “pharmaceutical properties”, “antioxidant activity”, “antiviral activity”, “anti-inflammation”, “antimicrobial” and “antibacterial activities”. (-)-Epicatechin, Caffeic acid, Gallic acid, Hydroxytyrosol, Kaempferol, and Resveratrol are some of the most important chemical compounds with antioxidant properties. Rosmarinic acid, Caffeic acid, Carnosol, P-Coumaric acid, Carnosic acid, Luteolin, Apigenin, and Kaempferol are the major chemical compounds with antiviral properties. Curcumin, Colchicine, Resveratrol, Capsaicin, (-)-Epigallocatechin, Quercetin, Myristicin, and Elmicin are the principal chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. Isoeugenol, Coumarin, Piperonal, Scoparone, Spathulenol, D-Limonene, and Myrcene are the principal chemical compounds with antibacterial properties in traditional Iranian medicine. Persian traditional medicine, or Iranian traditional medicine, is one of the main ancient forms of traditional medicine, which has influenced knowledge regarding other medicinal plants in various countries. It has also been considered one of the most well-known traditional and holistic systems of medicine.
... Feed samples and feces were used for nutrient composition analysis. (19). The AFB1, ZEN and DON residues in the ruminal and cecal contents of the two treatments and the basal diet were carried out according to the description of Guo et al. (20). ...
This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of mycotoxin adsorbent galactomannan oligosaccharides (GMOS) on growth performance, fermentation parameters, mycotoxins residues, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress parameters of the goats. The in vitro test indicated that 0.05% GMOS outperformed yeast cell wall (YCW) and montmorillonite (MMT) in aflatoxins absorption. Then 20 3-month-old Xiangdong black goats (15.0 ± 1.9 kg) were randomly divided into two dietary treatments for the animal test. The control group (CON group) was fed a multi-mycotoxins contaminated diet, whereas the experimental group (GMOS group) received multi-mycotoxins contaminated diet plus 0.05% GMOS. The trail lasted for 60 days, with 12 days of adaptation period and 48 days of formal experiment period. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.10) on growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The concentrations of zearalenone in the rumen were lower (P < 0.05) in the GMOS group. GMOS significantly reduced (P < 0.05) propionate concentration in the cecum, resulting in a rise (P < 0.01) in acetate/propionate ratio in GMOS as compared to CON. Goats of GMOS exhibited considerably greater (P < 0.05) levels of creatine kinase but lower (P = 0.02) levels of creatinine than CON. Compared with CON, GMOS supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) platelet count (PLT), platelet volume distribution width (PDW), and platelet hematocrit (PCT), while decreased (P < 0.05) albumin content (ALB). The 0.05% GMOS protected goats in ruminal fermentation parameters, mycotoxins residues and serum biochemistry. Moreover, GMOS had no adverse effect on goat health. To our knowledge, this is the first report of GMOS in small ruminants. These findings suggested the feasibility of dietary GMOS as a health-maintaining addictive in goat diets.
... The results indicated that M. oleifera polysaccharide gave positive effects on the immune performance and intestinal health. Enhancement of antioxidant enzymes was found upon feeding M. oleifera meal to transition Holstein cows (Kekana et al., 2020). The effects of Moringa leaf and its extracts on immunity functions and antioxidant activity is due to Moringa polyphenols extract, which might have immunomodulatory properties (Lin et al., 2018;Adjei-Fremah et al., 2019). ...
... Furthermore the cholesterol content of milk decreased by 17.60% (Shankhpal et al. 2019). Moringa leaf meal fed to pregnant Holstein cows at the rate of 16.66 g/ 100 kg body weight, resulted in improved blood profile, antioxidant status and udder health in these cows (Kekana et al. 2020). Micro supplementation of diet of lactating Jersey cows with Moringa leaf meal showed a significant effect on the blood biochemistry and udder health of cows. ...
Moringa oleifera, a member of the plant family Moringaceae, has been recognized to have an abundance of nutrients and bioactive
substances with the potential to positively affect health. Moringa has proven to be a versatile plant, with every part of it being used as
either a food or a therapeutic agent. The favorable results of different scientific investigations on the use of Moringa in human
nutrition have prompted a quest to investigate its potential application in the livestock sector as an alternative to traditional animal
feed. Moringa, being an excellent source of nutrients, particularly proteins, can be used as a source of protein in animal diets or as
an alternative to conventional livestock feed and fodder. Many research articles have recently been published suggesting that Moringa
can be utilized as an unconventional feed or as a fortification agent in animal feeds at inclusion levels that have no negative impact
on health, survival, mortality, growth rate, or reproduction.
... The successful completion of parturition stage and start of healthy lactation depend on the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT enzymes (53). High antioxidant (SOD, POD, and CAT) enzyme activities indicate that the supplementation of MOLP in late pregnancy improved the plasma enzymatic antioxidants that was also reported in some other studies conducted with different supplementation levels of MO in rabbits, poultry, and dairy cows (54)(55)(56). Blood biochemical parameters are the established indicators to provide information about the health status of pregnant animals for their successful transfer from gestation to lactation stage (57). Late pregnancy is characterized by severe metabolic changes and a rapid decrease in plasma protein level was also noticed in different other animal species during this period (58)(59)(60). ...
The purpose of the current study was to explore the supplementing effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) on plasma and milk biochemical indices and productive/reproductive performance of goats. A total of 30 healthy pregnant goats were randomly distributed (n = 10) into three experimental groups: control (M0) group (basal diet without MOLP), M2% group (basal diet + 2% MOLP), and M3.5% group (basal diet + 3.5% MOLP). The experiment started 2 months before parturition and continued till the first month of lactation. The plasma flavonoids were significantly increased in the M3.5% group during the entire experiment, whereas the total phenolic contents were enhanced only during the lactation period depending on the supplementation percentage. The amount of vitamin C increased significantly in M2% and M3.5% groups as compared to the M0 group. Supplementation of MOLP improved the plasma total antioxidant capacity by declining malondialdehyde concentration and total oxidant status values. The activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymes were modified in M2% and M3.5% supplemented groups throughout the experiment, while the catalase activity was significantly influenced only during the lactation stage. The protein and lycopene contents in plasma were significantly improved in the M3.5% group, whereas the total sugars and carotenoid level was increased in both M2% and M3.5% groups. Dietary supplementation with 3.5% MOLP more effectively enhanced protease and amylase activities as compared to 2% supplementation. MOLP also improved the biochemical indices and antioxidant status of colostrum and milk. The milk yield, weight gain of the kids, and reproductive performance were high in M2% and M3.5% groups in comparison to the M0 group. These findings disclose that supplementing the diet with 3.5% MOLP improves antioxidant status, milk yield, and reproductive performance in goats.
... It is also worth mentioning that thiol groups serve as targets when exposed to heavy metals because of their high reactivity. Hence, SH-groups are being blocked, while mercaptides and disulfide bonds are being formed [27]. If disulfide groups are reduced, thiol groups can be regenerated, thus providing antioxidant homeostasis. ...
RedOx processes determine the resistance of the organism to pollutants. The aim of the study was to establish a possible relationship between copper and zinc concentration in the blood of calves and the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase. The study was conducted in 2019 on 50 calves with a weight of 201-250 kg. The samples of venous blood were taken to estimate the level of hemoglobin, glutathione, metallothioneins, as well as zinc, copper, and superoxide dismutase activity. The obtained average values of these substances concentration were compared between each other. A positive correlation between the activity of superoxide dismutase and the concentration of zinc (r = 0.64) and copper (r = 0.87) in the blood of calves has been established. It may be because both metals are obligatory components of superoxide dismutase. There is also a positive relationship between the levels of copper and zinc (r = 0.68). For the other parameters, no reliable relationship was found. The data obtained indicate a positive relationship between the activity of superoxide dismutase and metal concentrations of copper and zinc in the blood of calves. At the same time, a more significant positive relationship is established for copper.
The effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf powder (MOLP) supplementation on milk somatic cell scores (SCS), plasma inflammation markers, and plasma antioxidants were studied in 18 multiparous Holstein cows, 10 in early lactation (days in milk; DIM < 100) and eight in mid- and late-lactation (DIM ≥ 100). Nine of these 18 cows (5 + 4 individuals for each lactation stage, respectively) were placed in the MO group and fed with MOLP at 0.3% of partial mixed ration (PMR) dry matter (DM) for 3 weeks, while the other nine represented the control group and were not fed any MOLP supplementation. Milk, blood, and rumen fluid samples were collected on weeks 0 and 3. The SCS and plasma acute phase protein (APP) concentrations in the early lactation cows in the control group increased markedly (P < 0.05) and milk yield decreased significantly, resulting in a difference (P < 0.05) between groups at the end of the experiment. In mid- and late-lactation cows, MOLP supplementation did not affect SCS, milk yields, and plasma APP concentrations. Plasma superoxide dismutase levels in the MO group at both lactation stages were higher (P < 0.05) than in the control group. In conclusion, feeding MOLP at 0.3% of PMR DM to dairy cows for 3 weeks controlled the increase in SCS in the early lactation individuals and the subsequent decrease in milk production as a response to inflammation. The results also suggested that MOLP supplementation was responsible for the increase in antioxidant activity during lactation.
The phytochemical screening showed that the Moringa oleifera (MO) extract contained many compounds such as polyphenols, polyterpenes, sterols, reducing sugars, and hydrolysates tannins. The MICs of MO extract for microbial strains is 0.73 mg/ml for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 7.5 mg/ml for Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and 0.5 mg/ml for Candida albicans. The MO extract has an IC50 of 3.403 mg/ml has an antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging. The cytotoxic activity of MO extract was evaluated by determining the content of lactate dehydrogenase released by the lysed cells. MO extract exhibited cytotoxic activity against HeLa and FaDu cell lines with an identical IC50 value of 25 µg/ml. We did not observe any remarkable decrease cytotoxic activity when these lines were exposed to the MO extract after 48 h. Our findings help to support the promising role of MO as anticancer agent and open a new challenge for studying DNA fragmentation.
Selenium is an essential trace element to maintain normal physiological and immunological systems. The role of various types and forms of Se on the productive performance and antioxidant status of dairy cows is overwhelming in the existing empirical evidence and, therefore, needs to be quantitatively summarized. This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of different types and forms of Se intake on the productive and oxidative status of various physiological stages of dairy cows. A database was built from 29 peer-reviewed publications that reported lactation performance, Se concentrations in the blood or milk, or antioxidant parameters of dairy cows. A total of 139 observations were included in the analysis according to mixed model univariate and multivariate regression analyses by evaluating the Se levels (%), intake (mg/d), Se forms (organic vs inorganic), Se types (Se-selenite, Se-yeast, Se-methionine) and other categorical predictors in the models. Then, the models were evaluated and cross-validated to select the best-fitted models on some important parameters. Se intake, in any form and type, had no relationship with milk yield but was positively associated with fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield due to a trend of linear increase in milk fat yield (g/d). A significant interaction of Se intake × lactation phase was observed. Daily Se intake positively affected the dry matter intake (DMI) of periparturient cows but did not affect the DMI of lactation cows. Increasing Se intake resulted in a linear increase of DMI and moderately increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) during the periparturient period but had no significant effect during early and mid-lactation of dairy cows. The interaction model of Se intake × Se forms was the best predictor to evaluate Se concentration in blood and milk. The organic Se had a higher transfer rate from diets to blood without a statistical difference between Se-yeast and Se-methionine. In milk, intake of Se-methionine demonstrated a strong linear increase in Se concentration and had a 47% higher slope of transfer rate than Se-yeast (2.47 µg/kg and R2 = 0.91 vs 1.68 µg/kg and R2 = 0.48, respectively). The amount of daily Se intake also curvilinearly affected superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde concentration. Altogether, the predicted models and results of the present meta-analysis provide empirical evidence that organic Se, especially Se-methionine, had a higher transfer rate from diets into the milk than organic Se-yeast. Organic Se might also improve milk protein and fat-corrected milk in lactating cows and antioxidant status in the periparturient period of dairy cows.
The dairy chain is remarkably important in mammals' nutrition, highlighting the human food through the production of milk and its derivatives. Thus, antibiotics have become essential for life and health maintenance of animals, being widely used for treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. However, antimicrobial resistance resulted from uncontrolled usage of antibiotics for prophylactic purposes and animal growth promoter. The challenge of antimicrobial resistance and persistence of antibiotic residues in milk still occurs, which presents a potential risk to human and animal health. Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternative strategies to overcome the inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially for dairy farming. Thus, this chapter intends to raise awareness and clarify issues related to the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle, the major problems of antimicrobial resistance, residues in milk, and to report about the main alternative solutions to the use of conventional antibiotics in dairy production with scientific studies.
In Colombia, a high amount of fruit waste is currently generated. These causes a negative environmental impact due to its high organic load. However, this type of waste has compounds in its structure that can be used in order to reduce the environmental impact and to obtain added value. The main of this study was to characterize bromatologically sixteen residues of fruit processing in Colombia, in order to propose a possible use in the food industry. The bromatological characterization of the waste was carried out by means of the quantification of dry matter (ASTM E1756-08), ash (ASTM E1755-01), proteins (Kjeldahl method), crude fats (AOAC Official Method), total dietary fiber (AOAC 993.21) and carbohydrates. It was found that grape and soursop seeds, lulo peel and tree tomato stem presents the highest total dietary fiber with content percentages above 50 %. Also, tree tomato, soursop, tangerine and orange seeds are an important source of protein and crude fats, with values highest than 12 and 27 %, respectively. It was also found that pineapple, mango, soursop and grape peel have a carbohydrate content greater than 50%. As a conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that fruit waste have a potential use in the food industry, due to their protein, crude fat, total dietary fiber and carbohydrates content.
The present study investigated the effects of malic acid, sucrose, and their mixture on the fermentation parameters, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) nitrogen fractions, and bacterial community of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) silages. The trial was divided into four treatments and labeled as CON (control group) and MLA, SUC, and MIX (respectively denoting the addition of 1% malic acid, 1% sucrose, and 1% malic acid + 1% sucrose to the fresh weight basis). The silage packages were opened on the 2nd, 5th, 10th, 20th, and 40th days of ensiling for subsequent determination. Malic acid and sucrose increased the lactic acid content (p < 0.05) and pH value, and the acetic acid contents of MLA and MIX were lower than those in CON (p < 0.05). Compared with sucrose, malic acid had a better capacity to preserve nutrients and inhibit proteolysis, and thus exerted better effects on the CNCPS nitrogen fractions. The results of 16S rRNA showed that the dominant phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and that the dominant genera were Lactobacillus and Weissella. With the application of silage additives and the processing of fermentation, there was a remarkable change in the composition and function of the bacterial community. The variation of the fermentation parameters and CNCPS nitrogen fractions in the MOL silages caused by malic acid and sucrose might be attributed to the dynamic and dramatic changes of the bacterial community.
The study evaluated the effects of garlic, probiotics, and in combination on levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance in newborn Holstein calves. Thirty-two Holstein calves were randomly allocated to treatments at four days old and were maintained on them until they were 42 days old. The treatments consisted of control (C), garlic powder at 5 g/calf/day (GA), probiotics at 4 g/calf/day (PB), and the combination of garlic and probiotics (GP). Bodyweight, body length and heart girth measurements were taken to determine growth and blood was drawn to determine glucose and IgG. Faecal score and body temperature were recorded daily. Calves in GA and GP had higher IgG levels than calves in C and PB (28.0 g/L and 27.5 g/L versus 23.5 g/L and 25.5 g/L, respectively). Calves in GP and PB groups had lower faecal scores than C and GA (2.1 and 2.1 versus 2.3 and 2.2, respectively). Supplementation of GA, PB, and in combination did not affect feed intake and growth performance negatively, but improved serum IgG levels. Higher serum IgG in GP may indicate an improved intake and utilisation of nutrients that are responsible for immunity modulation and regulation. Probiotics and their combinations with garlic have the potential to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea when fed to young calves. ______________________________________________________________________________________
The consumption of a high-fat diet is linked to the development of obesity and considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MEML) on the high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obesity and cardiac damage in rats. MEML, at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw and 400 mg/kg/bw, was orally administrated to obese rats for 12 weeks. M. oleifera leaves were proved to be rich in nutrients and minerals. Diversity of phenolic compounds in MEML was evidenced via LC-ESI-MS analysis. The chronic administration of HFD in rats led to an increase in the body weight gain, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and reduction in the HDL-C levels. The obtained results indicated a significant increase (p
This study examined the effects of micro-supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on lactation performance and blood metabolites of lactating dairy cows. Thirty Jersey cows (± 40 days in milk (DIM)) were supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (M) at 0 (M0), 30 (M30) and 60 g/cow/day. The experiment lasted until 90 DIM with 14 days adaptation. Milk yield was recorded daily and samples were collected once weekly to determine milk composition and total antioxidant capacity (MTAC). Blood samples were collected on days 54, 68 and 90 in milk to determine serum total protein (TSP), albumin (Alb), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total antioxidant capacity (STAC). Body weight (BW) and milk yield were not affected (P >0.05) by Moringa supplementation. Moringa supplementation at M60 increased (P <0.05) milk fat and MTAC with a significant reduction in somatic cell count (SCC). Increased (P <0.05) total serum protein (TSP) and IgG with reduced (P <0.05) non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels were observed in M60. Increased (P <0.05) STAC levels were noted in all groups supplemented with Moringa. Micro-supplementation with Moringa oleifera at 60 g/cow/day markedly reduced oxidative stress, which resulted in improved milk quality and immunity in lactating Jersey cows.
The increasing lactational performance of dairy cows over the last few decades is closely related to higher nutritional requirements. The decrease in dry matter intake during the peripartal period results in a considerable mobilisation of body tissues (mainly fat reserves and muscle mass) to compensate for the prevailing lack of energy and nutrients. Despite the activation of adaptive mechanisms to mobilise nutrients from body tissues for maintenance and milk production, the increased metabolic load is still a risk factor for animal health. The prevalence of production diseases, particularly subclinical ketosis is high in the early lactation period. Increased β -hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations further depress gluconeogenesis, feed intake and the immune system. Despite a variety of adaptation responses to nutrient and energy deficit that exists among dairy cows, an early and non-invasive detection of developing metabolic disorders in milk samples would be useful. The frequent and regular milking process of dairy cows creates the ability to obtain samples at any stage of lactation. Routine identification of biomarkers accurately characterising the physiological status of an animal is crucial for decisive strategies. The present overview recapitulates established markers measured in milk that are associated with metabolic health of dairy cows. Specifically, measurements of milk fat, protein, lactose and urea concentrations are evaluated. Changes in the ratio of milk fat to protein may indicate an increased risk for rumen acidosis and ketosis. The costly determination of individual fatty acids in milk creates barriers for grouping of fatty acids into saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Novel approaches include the potential of mid-IR (MIR) based predictions of BHB and acetone in milk, although the latter are not directly measured, but only estimated via indirect associations of concomitantly altered milk composition during (sub)clinical ketosis. Although MIR-based ketone body concentrations in milk are not suitable to monitor the metabolic status of the individual cow, they provide an estimate of the overall herd or specific groups of animals earlier in a particular stage of lactation. Management decisions can be made earlier and animal health status improved by adjusting diet composition.
Development of alternative forage resources is of great importance to provide necessary nutrients and minimize greenhouse gas emissions in ruminant production. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera on the production performance and fecal methanogenic community in dairy cows using methyl-coenzyme M reductase α-subunit gene. Sixty-four cows were allocated to one of four treatments: basal diet without M. oleifera (control) or low (3% w/w, M3), medium (6%, M6), or high (9%, M9) supplementation with M. oleifera. This study demonstrated that different supplementation levels of Moringa oleifera in the diet achieved similar feed intake and milk production, but adding 6% of Moringa oleifera improved milk fat content. Two families, two phyla, three genera, and three species in total were identified among the four treatments. The fecal archaeal community in the control treatment was predominated by Methanobrevibacter (39.1% of the total sequence reads) followed by Methanosphaera and Methanocorpusculum at the genus level. The increased abundance of the Methanosphaera genus and Methanosphaera sp. ISO3-F5 species was induced by secondary metabolites of Moringa oleifera in the diet. Results indicated that Moringa oleifera supplementation not only improved dairy product quality but could also potentially reduce methane emissions.
A 90-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of twenty growing Yankasa sheep. Five diets, fed to 5 groups of 4 animals, in a completely randomized design, was formulated with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) partially or completely replacing sundried (SSO) or ensiled Senna obtusifolia (ESO) leaf meal. The two ingredients collectively constituted 50% of the diets: 1 (50% MOLM), 2 (25% SSO25%MOLM), 3 (50% SSO), 4 (25% ESO/ 25%MOLM) and 5 (50% ESO). Results shows voluntary dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein intake (CPI) and crude fibre intake (CFI) of sheep was not significantly different among the treatments. However, daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher for animals fed diet 1 (99.35 g/day) than other diets. The haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cells (RBC) differed significantly (P<0.01) across the treatments. Also, Potassium (K+) and Chlorine (Cl-) were different (P<0.01) among treatments. Crude protein (CPD) and crude fibre (CFD) digestibility was significantly (P<0.01) higher for animals fed solely MOLM in diets (65.12 vs 51.51%) and lower for those on SSO/MOLM and SSO diets. It is concluded that sundried or ensiled Senna obtusifolia leaf meal could partially or completely replace Moringa oleifera leaf meal in diets with good performance in terms of nutrient intake, digestibility and weight gains.
Replacement of conventional feedstuffs with cheap non-conventional ingredients may improve livestock performance and the quality of their products, particularly milk. The study considered the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) foliage in replacement of berseem clover (BC) on feed utilisation and lactational performance in Nubian goats. A total of 16 lactating Nubian does, weighing 36.2±0.8 kg, were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments containing 0, 125, 250 and 375 g of MO per kg diet to replace 0 (M0), 25 (M25), 50 (M50) and 75% (M75) of BC (on dry matter (DM) basis) in a quadruplicated 4×4 Latin square design. The MO diets increased ( P <0.01) feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Feeding MO diets improved ( P <0.01) ruminal volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate but reduced ( P <0.01) valerate and iso-butyrate. Moringa diets increased ( P <0.01) serum total protein, albumin and glucose but decreased ( P <0.05) cholesterol and triglycerides. Milk yield and energy corrected milk, and milk total solids, fat and energy content were increased ( P <0.01) in MO diets. Yields of milk components and energy were greater ( P <0.05) for MO diets than for control diet. Milk total saturated fatty acids and athrogenicity index were lower ( P <0.01), and unsaturated fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids and UFA/SFA ratio higher ( P <0.05) for MO diets. It is concluded that feeding MO to replace 75% DM of BC improved feed utilisation, ruminal fermentation, and milk yield and quality in lactating Nubian goats.
Moringa oleifera is a rich source of antioxidants and a promising feed for livestock, due to significant amounts of protein, vitamins, carotenoids and polyphenols, and negligible amounts of anti-nutritional factors. The current study tested whether ensiling would preserve the antioxidant capacity of M. oleifera plants, and assessed whether Moringa silage, fed as a substitute for maize silage, would confer health-promoting traits and affect milk production in dairy cows. To this end, hand-harvested M. oleifera plants were ensiled, with or without molasses and inoculants, in anaerobic jars at room temperature (25 °C) for 37 days. At the end of the storage period the silages were analysed for pH, lactic acid and acetic acid concentrations, aerobic stability, antioxidant capacity, polyphenols and protein content, and tocopherols and carotenoids concentrations. Moringa silages exhibited higher antioxidant capacity compared with fresh and dried Moringa plants, not related to polyphenol content but presumably attributed to accumulation of amino acids and low molecular weight peptides. Based on these findings, a large-scale ensiling protocol was implemented, followed by a feeding trial for dairy cows, in which Moringa silage replaced 263 g maize silage/kg in the diet. Cows fed Moringa silage had higher milk yield and antioxidant capacity and lower milk somatic cell counts compared with controls, during some stages of lactation. These findings imply that ensiling M. oleifera is an appropriate practice by which health and production of dairy cows can be improved.
Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is a key moderator of cell-mediated immunity with diverse, mainly pro-inflammatory actions on immunocytes and target tissue. Recent studies have shown it may enhance anti-tumor and antiviral effects of CD8 T cells. Here we investigate the mechanisms by which IFNγ mediates CD8 T-cell cytotoxic function. We show that in vivo, antigen-specific CD8 T cells that produce INFγ are necessary to effect rejection of skin grafts expressing OVA as a transgene in keratinocytes. The ability of CD8 T cells to produce IFNγ enhanced their ability to migrate to the site of antigen-presenting skin cells. By in vivo imaging, we show that CTL motility, particularly speed, during graft rejection was enhanced by locally available IFNγ. We then used a reductionist two-cell model of CTL effectors and keratinocyte targets to investigate the effects of locally available (paracrine) and CTL-producing (autocrine) IFNγ on the motility behavior and killing ability of the CTL. Using live-cell imaging by prolonged time-lapse microscopy of primary effector CD8 T cells and antigen-expressing primary keratinocyte targets, we show that CD8 T-cell cytotoxic function and motility is enhanced by locally available IFNγ. Conversely, deprivation of either autocrine or paracrine IFNγ, or blockade of IFNγ signaling to CTL markedly reduced their cytotoxic function, their kinematics, and effector cell survival. We conclude that in vitro and in vivo, autocrine production of IFNγ by CTL enhances their motility and promotes killing of primary target keratinocytes. The absolute need for local IFNγ to enable cytotoxic CD8 T-cell function is of significance for immunotherapy for chronic viral infection and for cancer.
This study determined the activities of Bidens pilosa and Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on microbial count of ground beef during 6-day cold storage. Fresh ground beef sample was treated with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (0.2 g/kg), M. oleifera (ML, 1 g/kg) and B. pilosa (BP, 1 g/kg) leaf extracts and compared with the control. The result of the phytochemical contents revealed that ML extract had higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than BP extract (p > 0.05). The antibacterial assay of the extracts revealed an appreciable broad-spectrum activity against tested bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations between 0.6 and 10.0 mg/mL. Addition of ML leaf extract to ground beef sample lowered total viable and lactic acid bacteria (p < 0.05) counts than control and BHT treatments at day 3 of storage. These results suggest that ML leaf extract could be used as potential sources of natural antimicrobial agent in meat products.
Interspecific competition in natural plant communities is highly dependent on nutrient availability. At high levels of nutrient availability, competition is mainly for light, As light is a unidirectional resource, high-nutrient habitats are dominated by fast-growing perennials with a tall stature and a rather uniform vertical distribution of leaf area. Moreover, these species have high turnover rates of leaves and roots and a high morphological plasticity during the differentiation of leaves. There is less consensus, however, about the importance and intensity of interspecific competition in nutrient-poor environments. It is argued that selection in nutrient-poor habitats is not necessarily on a high competitive ability for nutrients and a high growth rate, but rather on traits which reduce nutrient losses (low tissue nutrient concentrations, slow tissue turnover rates, high nutrient resorption efficiency), Due to evolutionary trade-offs plants can not maximize both growth rate and nutrient retention. Thus, the low growth rate of species from nutrient-poor habitats should be considered as the consequence of nutrient retention rather than as a feature on which direct selection takes place. The contrasting traits of species from nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich habitats mutually exclude them from each others' habitats. Moreover, these traits have severe consequences for litter decomposability and thereby also for nutrient cycling. This leads both in nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich habitats to a positive feedback between plant species dominance and nutrient availability, thereby promoting ecosystem stability.
Dairy cows are especially vulnerable to health disorders during the transition period, when they shift from late pregnancy to the onset of lactation. Diseases at this stage affect not only the animals' well-being, but also cause a major economic impact in dairy farms, because apart from treatment costs, affected cows will not reach their peak milk-producing capacity. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to oxidative stress, which has been identified as an underlying factor of dysfunctional inflammatory responses. Supplementation with vitamins and trace elements attempts to minimize the harmful consequences of excessive ROS production, thereby trying to improve animals' health status and to reduce disease incidence. However, results regarding the effects of supplementing antioxidants on dairy cows' health and performance have been inconsistent, because in most cases, the antioxidant potential of the animals was not assessed beforehand and the nutritional strategy planned accordingly. Therefore, reviewing the physiological and harmful effects of ROS production, along with the different options available for assessing the redox balance in dairy cattle and some of the key findings of different supplementation trials, could bring one step forward the on-farm application of determinations of oxidative status for establishing nutritional strategies early enough in the dry period that could improve transition cow health.
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of a novel phytobiotics-rich herbal mixture (PRHM) on feed intake, performance, udder health, ruminal fermentation, and plasma metabolites in cows with moderate or high somatic cell counts (SCC) in the milk. Twenty-four Holstein dairy cows (117 ± 26 d in milk and 46.3 ± 4.7 kg of milk/d at the start of the experiment) were blocked by parity and days in milk and split into 2 groups, based on SCC in the milk; 12 cows were with moderate SCC (260,000 < SCC <500,000 cells/mL), whereas 12 other cows had high levels of SCC (>500,000 cells/mL) in the milk. Within each SCC group, cows were blocked by milk yield and parity, and were randomly assigned to 2 different feeding regimens. Half of the cows in each SCC group (n = 6) were supplemented with PRHM (185 g/cow per day, providing 12.4 g of phenolic compounds per day), and the other half (n = 6) were not supplemented in their diets. The experiment lasted 36 d, whereby the first 24 d were used for adaptation to the diets and the last 12 d for sampling. Data showed that supplementation of PRHM decreased somatic cell score in the milk, indicating improved udder health of cows with high initial SCC, but not in cows with moderate SCC. Also, cows supplemented with PRHM consumed more feed DM, produced greater amounts of milk, and showed an improvement of feed utilization efficiency. However, these cows also lost more back-fat thickness during the experiment. Supplementation of PRHM increased fat- and energy-corrected milk yields in cows with high initial SCC, but not in cows with moderate SCC. Supplementation of PRHM decreased milk fat content, whereas other milk components were not affected by PRHM feeding. The PRHM supplementation decreased the acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen fluid, but increased β-hydroxybutyrate and cholesterol concentration in the plasma, irrespective of the initial SCC level in the milk. Other plasma metabolites and liver enzymes were not affected by PRHM supplementation. Apparent nutrient digestibility did not differ among treatments. Overall, supplementation of PRHM seems to be an effective strategy to enhance performance and lower SCC, particularly in cows having high SCC levels in the milk. Further research is warranted to evaluate long-term effects of PRHM supplementation, especially with regard to metabolic health status and reproduction.
The object of this study was to determine the effect of prepartum supplementation of vitamin E with or without injective vitamin E and selenium (Se) on productive and reproductive performances and immune function in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were divided randomly into three groups at the end of gestation. Cows in each group received one of three treatments: (1) a single intramuscular (im) injection of vit. E + selenium 3 weeks prepartum; (2) daily supplementation of oral vit. E given from 3 weeks prepartum to parturition; (3) injective vit. E + Se with daily supplementation of oral vit. E. Blood samples were collected from cows at calving and from calves at 0 and 7 days of age. Concentration of IgG in serum of cows and calves as well as in colostrum was determined. No significant differences among treatments occurred in the concentrations of IgG, animal, and calf production and reproduction performance. Due to the lack of significant difference between injection and oral supplementation, it is recommended to replace the injection with oral supplementation.
The antioxidant activity of the leaves and flowers of the Moringa oleifera plant were investigated and the results were compared to those of selected vegetables (cabbage, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and peas). Antioxidant activity was determined by analysing the total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, reducing power and radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical method. The total phenolics content of moringa was almost twice that of the vegetables and the total flavonoids content was three times that of the selected vegetables. The reducing power of moringa was higher than that of the vegetables and the percentage of free radicals remaining was lower compared with the vegetables. These results combined show that moringa is a good source of antioxidants. This finding also explains why moringa forms part of the diet of people in many developing countries, especially in the southern hemisphere.
To evaluate and compare the antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of flowers of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) grown in Oman.
Flowers of M. oleifera were collected in the month of December 2012 and identified by a botanist. Alcoholic extract of the dry pulverized flowers of M. oleifera were obtained by cold maceration method. The ethanolic flower extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening as the reported methods. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to estimate total phenolic content. DPPH was used to determine in-vitro antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of flowers was investigated by protein denaturation method.
Phytochemical analysis of extract showed presence of major classes of phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides etc. M. oleifera flowers were found to contain 19.31 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent of total phenolics in dry extract but exhibited moderate antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of plant extract was significant and comparable with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.
The results of our study suggest that flowers of M. oleifera possess potent anti-inflammatory activity and are also a good source of natural antioxidants. Further study is needed to identify the chemical compounds responsible for their anti-inflammatory activity.
The effect of inclusion level on nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and haematological parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep fed Moringa oleifera as supplements to Panicum maximum was investigated in a completely randomized design experiment using twenty WAD rams with average initial weight of 16.1kg. There were five treatments 1 – 5 with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % M. oleifera inclusion levels respectively. M. oleifera had better nutrient profile with 29.68% CP and 16.98% CF contents than P. maximum with 9.17% CP and 40.37% CF. Inclusion of M. oleifera as supplement to P. maximum in the diets of WAD sheep significantly lowered (P<0.05) DM intake especially at higher (>50%) inclusion rates. OM, EE and NFE intakes were similar but CP intake increased while CF intake decreased (P<0.05) as inclusion level increases. The best DM, organic matter (OM), CP and Nitrogen-free extract (NFE) digestibility were obtained at 100 % Moringa inclusion while CF and ether extract (EE) digestibility were highest at 25 % inclusion level which also gave similar DM and CP digestibility with 100 % inclusion. N balance and retention were best under 25 % M. oleifera and least under 75 % M. oleifera. Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts for animals on browse supplementation were within the normal physiological range for healthy sheep, in contrast with those without supplementation which were below the range. The blood profile was best for animals on 25 % Moringa inclusion. [Journal of American Science 2010;6(10):634-643]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Confidence intervals for blood parameters used for nutritional and metabolic profile testing in cattle were calculated for clinically normal lactating Holstein cows, taking into account the effects of parity, stage of lactation, and season. Blood samples were collected from 740 cows in 33 Italian dairy herds according to a predefined protocol. Herds were visited during summer and the following winter, sampling 12 lactating cows at each visit (4 primiparous and 8 multiparous). Six cows were selected from the early-lactation group (days in milk: 10 to 89) and the other 6 were selected from the mid-lactation group (days in milk: 90 to 215). Cow selection criteria excluded animals clinically exposed to periparturient diseases as well as animals not considered in good health by a veterinary clinical examination. For each blood variable, outliers were identified and discarded. Data were then analyzed for their Gaussian distribution and variables with not normal distribution were log-transformed to adjust for lack of normality. Herd mean values were calculated for each blood parameter according to 3 main classification factors: parity (primiparous vs. multiparous), stage of lactation (early vs. mid) and season of production (summer vs. winter). The resulting data set was statistically analyzed using a mixed model with the fixed effects of these factors, their interactions, and the random effect of herd. General 95% confidence intervals were calculated for blood variables that showed a relevant herd variance component such as albumin, triglycerides, aspartate, urea, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, direct and total bilirubin, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. For the remaining parameters, specific confidence intervals were calculated for each level of the significant main factors. Parity affected blood concentration of total protein, globulin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, creatinine kinase, and phosphorus. Blood nonesterified fatty acids, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, creatinine kinase and cholesterol were influenced by stage of lactation. The season of production had a significant effect on total protein, globulin, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, sodium, and chlorine. The outcomes of this work will improve the accuracy of the biochemical profile as a tool for dairy practitioners to assess the metabolic status of lactating Holstein cows.
Moringa oleifera, either fresh or ensiled, was compared with Elephant grass as a main feedstuff for dairy cows. To test the effects feed had on milk yield, milk composition, ration digestibility, and the organoleptic characteristics of milk, six lactating dairy cows were used in a Changeover 3 × 3 Latin Square experiment, replicated twice. With equal intake of metabolizable energy the intake of protein and fiber differed (p < 0.001) between all diets where fresh Moringa had the highest and the Elephant grass diet had the lowest intake. Compared with the control diet, ensiled Moringa had higher digestibility (P < 0.05) of both protein and fiber. With the exception of DM digestibility, no digestibility differences were found between fresh Moringa and Moringa silage treatments. Milk yield did not differ between any of the treatments and averaged 13.7 kg cow day(-1). Milk composition was similar among all treatments. Milk from the fresh Moringa treatment, however, had a grassy flavor and aroma, significantly different from the other two treatments, even though it was normal in color and appearance. No organoleptic differences were found between milk from the control treatment and the Moringa silage treatment. The conclusion is that Moringa silage can be fed to dairy cows in large quantities to produce the same quantity and quality of milk as traditional diets.
In the recent years, the exploration of bioactive phytochemicals as natural feed additives has been of great interest among nutritionists and rumen microbiologists to modify the rumen fermentation favorably such as defaunation, inhibition of methanogenesis, improvement in protein metabolism, and increasing conjugated linoleic acid content in ruminant derived foods. Many phytochemicals such as saponins, essential oils, tannins and flavonoids from a wide range of plants have been identified, which have potential values for rumen manipulation and enhancing animal productivity as alternatives to chemical feed additives. However, their effectiveness in ruminant production has not been proved to be consistent and conclusive. This review discusses the effects of phytochemicals such as saponins, tannins and essential oils on the rumen microbial populations, i.e., bacteria, protozoa, fungi and archaea with highlighting molecular diversity of microbial community in the rumen. There are contrasting reports of the effects of these phytoadditives on the rumen fermentation and rumen microbes probably depending upon the interactions among the chemical structures and levels of phytochemicals used, nutrient composition of diets and microbial components in the rumen. The study of chemical structure-activity relationships is required to exploit the phytochemicals for obtaining target responses without adversely affecting beneficial microbial populations. A greater understanding of the modulatory effects of phytochemicals on the rumen microbial populations together with fermentation will allow a better management of the rumen ecosystem and a practical application of this feed additive technology in livestock production.
Eighteen cows were assigned in equal numbers to three groups: control, ketosis induction by using feed restriction plus dietary 1,3-butanediol to provide ketone bodies, and glucose treatment with 484 g/d of glucose infused intraduodenally starting 7 d after beginning ketosis induction. Ketosis induction, begun at d 15 postpartum, caused ketonemia and gradual development of clinical ketosis by d 40 to 45. None of the cows in the control or glucose-treated groups became ketotic. Concentrations of NEFA in plasma of cows that became ketotic increased 3.0-, 2.6-, and 1.9-fold at 3 wk before, 2 wk before, and at ketosis, respectively, but increased nonsignificantly for glucose-treated cows. Concurrently, beta-hydroxybutyrate increased 3.5-, 5.8- and 8.4-fold for cows that became ketotic but 1.6-fold or less for glucose-treated cows. Plasma acetate increased dramatically 2 wk before ketosis. Liver glycogen content decreased to nearly 0 by 2 wk before ketosis occurred, but it increased to prepartal values in glucose-treated cows. Liver triglycerides averaged 2.0% of wet weight at d 5 for all cows but increased to 8 to 10% for about 2 wk before ketosis occurred. Microscopy of liver samples demonstrated progressive accumulation of lipid globules, which began in hepatocytes near the central vein and progressed toward the portal triad. Visible lipid content reached a peak 2 wk before ketosis. Hepatic in vitro gluconeogenic capacity decreased significantly for ketosis induction protocol cows when clinical ketosis was detected. Results indicate that experimental ketosis was preceded by metabolic abnormalities up to 2 wk before clinical ketosis occurred. The key events for onset of clinical ketosis, however, were not elucidated.
Inflammation is an ancient, broadly-conserved set of non-specific responses to infection that contribute to the immune system’s ability to clear invading pathogens. However, inflammation is a double-edged sword, and there is growing recognition of the harmful effects of excessive or chronic inflammation for the animal, especially with respect to its metabolic function. Activation of inflammatory pathways is very common among periparturient dairy cows, likely driven by a combination of pathogen challenges, calving-associated tissue damage, endotoxin exposure, and lipid-mediated oxidative stress. Recent evidence suggests that the resulting inflammation may promote metabolic disorders through decreases in feed intake and maladaptive changes in liver metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Treatments that successfully prevent the causes of inflammation and/or directly inhibit inflammatory signaling cascades hold promise for improving the health and productivity of dairy cows in early lactation.
The effects of supplementing transition dairy cows with Acremonium terricola culture (ATC) in the transition period were investigated. Ten dairy cows received a dietary supplement of 30 g/cow/d ATC from 14 d prior to their estimated calving date to 21 d postpartum, and 10 did not. The cows that receiving ATC showed greater milk production, energy-corrected milk yield, and feed efficiency, and had a lower somatic milk cell count and body mass change than the non-supplemented cows (P < 0.05). Cows that consumed ATC also had significantly higher plasma concentrations of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity than the controls (P < 0.05). In addition, they had significantly higher blood glucose and lower plasma β-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acid, and cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that dietary supplementation with ATC improved production, antioxidant status, and energy balance in transition cows, with no obvious adverse effects.
Plasma concentration of fructosamine (Fr) has been proposed as a way to monitor retrospective undernutrition in dairy cows during the transition period. The objective of this study was to evaluate, under standard feeding conditions, the variation of plasma Fr in dairy cows during the transition phase and its relationship with biomarkers of energy metabolism and inflammatory conditions. The trial was carried out with 24 Italian Friesian dairy cows from the last month of pregnancy through the first 2 months of lactation. Diet characteristics and dry matter intake (DMI) were continuously monitored, and energy balance was evaluated on a weekly basis. Milk yield, body weight, body condition score and health status were also monitored. Blood samples were taken two times a week throughout the experimental period and daily in the week before and after calving. Concentrations of Fr together with biochemical indicators related to energy, protein and mineral metabolism; markers of inflammation; and liver enzymes were measured in plasma. Cows were categorized into three groups according to the average concentration of plasma Fr observed at 28, 35 and 42 days in milk (DIM) (cows with lowest [LF], intermediate [IF] and highest [HF] concentrations of Fr, respectively). The LF cows reached an average maximum milk yield (MY) of 51.7 kg/d, whereas IF and HF cows produced 48.9 and 47.2 kg/d, respectively. During the first month of lactation, the DMI was 17.4, 18.2 and 18.7 kg/d in LF, IF and HF, respectively. In the first month of lactation, Fr was not correlated with MY, but had a positive correlation with DMI (P < 0.05) and energy balance (P < 0.05). In the same period, the average plasma glucose was greater (P < 0.05) in HF (3.71 mmol/L) and lower in LF (3.34 mmol/L). During the first month of lactation, plasma Fr was positively related (P < 0.05) to plasma glucose and albumin concentrations over the previous 1–3 weeks. The Liver Activity Index, used to measure the consequences of inflammation around calving and calculated by using three blood analytes that represent liver-synthesized proteins, indicated greater inflammation in LF cows compared with HF. Our results highlight that plasma Fr during the first 3–4 weeks of lactation summarizes the energy balance during the transition period and that the energy deficit is more influenced by DMI and inflammatory conditions than by MY.
The use of antibiotics in diets has been restricted in several countries as a precautionary measure to avoid development of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms. This regulation promoted the exploration of natural plant bioactive compounds (PBCs) as feed additives to improve productivity, welfare and health of livestock and poultry. Along with several beneficial attributes of PBCs, including antimicrobial, antioxidant and various pharmacological effects, they also improve barrier function and nutrient transport in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This comprehensive review discusses the effects of different PBCs on the integrity, nutrient transport and permeability of GI epithelia and their mechanism of actions. Dietary PBCs influence the maintenance and enhancement of GI integrity via a number of mechanisms including altered signaling pathways and expression of several tight junction proteins (claudins, occludin, and zonula occludens proteins), altered expression of various cytokines, chemokines, complement components and their transcription factors, goblet cell abundance and mucin gene expression, and the modulation of the cellular immune system. They also affect nutrient transporter gene expression and active absorption of nutrients, minerals and ammonia. One intriguing perspective is to select an effective dose at which a specific PBC could improve GI barrier function and nutrient absorption. The effective doses and clear-cut molecular mechanisms for PBCs are yet to be elucidated to understand discrepant observations among different studies and to improve the targeted biotechnological and pharmaceutical uses of PBCs in farm animals. The latter will also enable a more successful use of such PBCs in humans.
The effects of Acremonium terricola culture (ATC) on performance, rumen fermentation and microbiota, and antioxidant and immune functions in dairy cows were investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, thirty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were blocked for day in milk, somatic cell counts and milk production and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in an 8-week trial: a basal diet plus 0, 15 or 30 g/d ATC. The result of supplementing dairy cows with ATC was a linear increase in the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, milk production, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, feed efficiency, milk fat and lactose yields, and milk fat percentage, but a linear decrease in the milk somatic cell count. In Experiment 2, five late-lactating dairy cows were fed the basal diet from d 1 to 14 (pre-trial period). From d 15 to 35 (trial period), the same cows were fed 30 g/d ATC. Supplementation with ATC was stopped from d 36 to 42 (post-trial period). Feed, rumen and blood samples were collected on d 13, 14, 34, 35, 41 and 42. Compared with the pre- and post-periods, the ruminal pH and molar proportion of butyrate decreased during the trial period. Additionally, the ammonia nitrogen and total volatile fatty acid concentrations as well as the molar proportion of acetate were increased. For most of the rumen bacteria that were measured, the relative expression level increased during the trial period, but that of Fibrobacter succinogenes decreased. Moreover, ATC significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase during the trial period. The concentrations of blood glucose and immunoglobulins A, M, and G also increased in the plasma. By contrast, ATC resulted in a significant reduction in the plasma concentrations of aspartate transaminase, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde. These results show that feeding ATC can increase performance, improve rumen fermentation, and increase antioxidant and immune functions in dairy cows, when fed up to 30 g/d.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of aqueous ethanolic extract of Bidens pilosa Lam. Asteraceae (B. pilosa) and Moringa oleifera Lam. Moringaceae (M. oleifera) leaf plants. The plants’ extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals and for antimicrobial activities. The phytoconstituents of the extracts were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) while the free radical scavenging activities of the extracts were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical assays. The result of GC-MS analysis revealed higher amount of phytoconstituents in B. pilosa (20) than M. oleifera (13) extracts. The antioxidant activity of the plants’ extracts (P < 0.05) showed that M. oleifera extracts had higher phenolic (77.5 ± 0.94 mg Ru/g DW) and flavonoid (17.4 ± 0.15 mg Ru/g DW) contents than the B. pilosa extract with phenolic (75.9 ± 0.53 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (14.9 ± 0.05 mg Ru/g DW) equivalents. The extracts also demonstrated high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities which were comparable to those of rutin and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Moreso, B. pilosa was found to possess higher total chlorophyll, carotenoid and lower vitamin C levels of 3.60±0.04 mg/g DW, 0.73±0.00 mg/g DW and 0.03mg/g DW, respectively than those of M. oleifera which were 1.46±0.01 mg/g DW, 0.39±0.00 mg/g DW and 0.35mg/g DW, respectively. The antibacterial assay of the extracts revealed an appreciable broad spectrum activity against tested bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) range of between 0.6 and 10.0 mg/ml. The best antibacterial activities of the extracts were against E. faecalis and S. epidermidis and the lowest activity was against E. coli. In conclusion, this study revealed B. pilosa and M. oleifera plants as potential sources of natural antioxidants.
The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of including different forms of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in the diets of goats. Sixteen lactating Anglo-Nubian goats (36.2. ±. 0.7. kg) were used in quadruplicated 4. ×. 4 Latin square design for 88. days. M. oleifera as fresh foliage, hay or silage replacing 750. g/kg dry matter (DM) of sesame meal were evaluated against a basal diet without M. oleifera (sesame meal as the sole protein source) as a control diet. M. oleifera leaf meal was ensiled for 60. days, whereas hay was made after air drying for 10. days. Goats fed M. oleifera silage or fresh biomass had higher (P < 0.05) DM intake (DMI) and digestibility of most nutrients compared with the control diet. In addition, DMI was greater (P < 0.05) in goats fed M. oleifera silage compared with hay. Feeding all three forms of M. oleifera decreased (P < 0.05) ruminal ammonia-N concentration and increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of ruminal propionate. Higher (P < 0.05) ruminal ammonia-N, propionate, and total short-chain fatty acids were noted in goats fed M. oleifera silage compared with hay. M. oleifera diets decreased (P < 0.05) blood serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations and increased (P < 0.05) serum glucose compared with the control. Moreover, feeding M. oleifera diets resulted in higher (P < 0.05) milk yield, energy-corrected milk and milk contents of protein and lactose than for the control diet, and higher (P < 0.05) milk fat contents were noted in goats fed M. oleifera fresh biomass and hay compared with the control diet. Feeding M. oleifera increased (P < 0.05) total unsaturated fatty acids and total conjugated linoleic acid of milk and decreased (P < 0.05) saturated fatty acids. It is concluded that feeding different forms of M. oleifera to replace 750. g/kg DM of sesame meal enhanced feed utilization, ruminal fermentation, milk yield and composition in lactating Anglo-Nubian goats. The best performance was observed in goats fed M. oleifera silage followed by fresh M. oleifera and then M. oleifera hay.
Dairy cattle are susceptible to increased incidence and severity of both metabolic and infectious diseases during the periparturient period. A major contributing factor to increased health disorders is alterations in bovine immune mechanisms. Indeed, uncontrolled inflammation is a major contributing factor and a common link among several economically important infectious and metabolic diseases including mastitis, retained placenta, metritis, displaced abomasum, and ketosis. The nutritional status of dairy cows and the metabolism of specific nutrients are critical regulators of immune cell function. There is now a greater appreciation that certain mediators of the immune system can have a reciprocal effect on the metabolism of nutrients. Thus, any disturbances in nutritional or immunological homeostasis can provide deleterious feedback loops that can further enhance health disorders, increase production losses, and decrease the availability of safe and nutritious dairy foods for a growing global population. This review will discuss the complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and immune functions in periparturient dairy cattle. Details of how either deficiencies or overexposure to macro- and micronutrients can contribute to immune dysfunction and the subsequent development of health disorders will be presented. Specifically, the ways in which altered nutrient metabolism and oxidative stress can interact to compromise the immune system in transition cows will be discussed. A better understanding of the linkages between nutrition and immunity may facilitate the design of nutritional regimens that will reduce disease susceptibility in early lactation cows.
Based on the author's important Fitts Lectures, this book details a set of psychological concepts and principles that offers a unified interpretation of a wide variety of memory, categorization, and decision-making phenomena. These phenomena are explained via two families of models established by the book: a storage-retrieval model and an adaptive network model. The book considers whether the models are competing or complementary, offering cogent and instructive arguments for both perspectives. The book's theory is then applied to two large-scale series of studies on category learning and recognition, providing an integrated understanding of seemingly disparate phenomena. This book is the culmination of more than ten years research in the field.
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness having varied etiology which affects cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. There are data which show possible role of oxidative stress and disturbance in antioxidant mechanisms in various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Fifty drug-naive schizophrenic patients, who attended psychiatry outpatient department/inpatient department for the 1(st) time, were selected and compared with 50 age-sex matched healthy controls. The erythrocyte level of malondialdehyde (MDA) - a lipid peroxidation product and marker of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was estimated. We also correlated the sociodemographic parameters and severity of illness (positive and negative syndrome scale score) with oxidative stress (MDA) and level of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX).
The level of oxidative stress (MDA) was increased, and the levels of antioxidative enzymes (GPX and SOD) were decreased in schizophrenic patients as compared to normal healthy controls and the difference was statistically significant. No significant relationships of age, sex, educational status, marital status, and PANNS score with oxidative stress (MDA) and antioxidative enzymes (GPX and SOD) level in schizophrenic patients was found; but there was significant relationship of locality with oxidative stress (MDA) and antioxidative enzymes (GPX and SOD) level in schizophrenic patients was found. Urban population have a higher level of MDA, GPX, and SOD than the rural population.
Our findings put great emphasis on the weak pro/antioxidant defense mechanisms and its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We can make recommendations of dietary nutritional supplementation and adjunct antioxidants therapy with antipsychotics to treat schizophrenics.
Four ruminally cannulated primiparous lactating cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the effects of propolis-based products (PBP; obtained under different concentrations of propolis and levels of alcohol) on milk production, milk fatty acid (FA) composition, and the antioxidant capacity of milk. The total mixed ration consisted of 591.9 g/kg of corn silage and 408.1 g/kg of concentrate [dry matter (DM) basis], and treatments differed with regard to the inclusion or exclusion of PBP as follows: control (CON; excipient without phenolic compounds from the propolis extract), PBP1, PBP2 and PBP3 (3.81, 3.27 and 1.93 mg of phenolic compounds/kg of ingested DM, respectively). Adding propolis to the diets had no effects on DM intake, milk production, feed conversion efficiency, milk solid concentrations, or somatic cell score. Milk FA composition was changed by the addition of PBP. The content of cis9,trans11-18:2 (CLA isomer) was 50.8% higher in the PBP2 than in the CON (P < 0.001). The PBP3 increased monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) contents and reduced (P = 0.029) the proportion of saturated FA (SFA). Further, the addition of PBP reduced (P < 0.001) the n6:n3 ratio in milk fat when compared with that in the CON. The antioxidant capacity of milk increased (P < 0.001) with the addition of phenolic compounds from PBP in the diet. Propolis improves milk quality when added to the diet of dairy cows, but different amounts of phenolic compounds can influence the beneficial effects of PBP on dairy milk.
In an experiment with 80 growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs, effects of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) bulb and garlic husk supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics were determined. In the experiment, which lasted 10 weeks, lambs were allocated to 5 treatments (GBGH0, GB30, GB60, GH50, and GH100) of 16 lambs (8 male and 8 female each). Male and female lambs had an initial body weight (BW) of 13.9±2.1 and 12.8±1.7kg, respectively, and were fed a concentrate mixture ad libitum and alfalfa hay at 0.2kg/lamb/d. The concentrate mixture for treatment GBGH0 had no garlic bulbs or husks (control), while those for treatments GB30 and GB60 included 30 and 60kg/t of garlic bulbs, respectively, and those for treatments GH50 and GH100 included 50 and 100kg/t of garlic husks, respectively. Male lambs grew faster than female lambs, but there were no differences among garlic bulb or garlic husk fed lambs in final BW, BW gain, dry matter intake or feed conversion ratio. Males had heavier carcasses than females, but there were no differences in carcass yield, or other carcass characteristics, between sexes. Garlic bulb and garlic husk supplementation in isonitrogenous and iso (net energy) energetic diets for growing lambs did not affect their performances.
The antiradical activities of various antioxidants were determined using the free radical, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*). In its radical form. DPPH* has an absorption band at 515 nm which dissappears upon reduction by an antiradical compound. Twenty compounds were reacted with the DPPH* and shown to follow one of three possible reaction kinetic types. Ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid and isoeugenol reacted quickly with the DPPH* reaching a steady state immediately. Rosmarinic acid and δ-tocopherol reacted a little slower and reached a steady state within 30 min. The remaining compounds reacted more progressively with the DPPH* reaching a steady state from 1 to 6 h. Caffeic acid, gentisic acid and gallic acid showed the highest antiradical activities with a stoichiometry of 4 to 6 reduced DPPH* molecules per molecule of antioxidant. Vanillin, phenol, γ-resorcylic acid and vanillic acid were found to be poor antiradical compounds. The stoichiometry for the other 13 phenolic compounds varied from one to three reduced DPPH* molecules per molecule of antioxidant. Possible mechanisms are proposed to explain the experimental results.
Investigations were conducted to determine the mechanisms that account for differences in the responses of BoCD4+ lymphocytes from mammary gland secretions (MGS) in healthy cows and in cows with Staphylococcus aureus infection. The proliferative response to lectins and S. aureus antigens of mammary gland lymphocytes from healthy, S. aureus immunized cows was less than the response of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lower responses of mammary gland lymphocytes were attributable both to less efficient antigen presentation by mammary gland antigen-presenting cells (APC) than by peripheral blood APC, and to lower responsiveness of mammary gland lymphocytes to lectins and antigen.In addition, the proliferative response of infected mammary gland lymphocytes was less than the response of uninfected mammary gland lymphocytes. This difference resulted from decreased proliferation of BoCD4+ lymphocytes in infected MGS. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that infected MGS contained increased numbers of BoCD8+ cells which coexpressed an activation molecule, ACT2, relative to BoCD8+ cells from uninfected MGS. Removal of BoCD8+, ACT2+ lymphocytes resulted in increased antigen responsiveness by lymphocytes from infected mammary glands. Also, when purified BoCD4+ lymphocytes were stimulated with antigen in the presence of varying numbers of ACT2+, BoCD8+ lymphocytes, antigen responsiveness was decreased in a dose-related manner.These data demonstrate that hyporesponsiveness of mammary gland lymphocytes to lectins and S. aureus antigen is, in part, mediated by activated BoCD8+ lymphocytes and suggest that this population enhances persistent intramammary infection by S. aureus.
Seventeen laboratories participated in the analysis of 10 products for carotene and retinol by high-performance liquid chromatography. Test materials were saponified and the nonsaponifiables were extracted with petroleum ether. The extract was injected into the liquid chromatograph for determination of carotene at 450 nm/436 nm, using a C18 reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile:methylene chloride:methanol:water (70:20:8:2, v/v). Retinol was determined at 325 nm/313 nm by using a C18 reversed-phase column with a mobile phase of methanol:water (90:10, v/v). The biological activities of retinol and carotene expressed in international units were summed to give total activity. The repeatability (within laboratory) coefficients of variation ranged from 3.46–15.65%, and the reproducibility (among laboratories) coefficients of variation ranged from 5.34–15.77%.
The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine organ composed of a heterogeneous mixture of cells. Functional interactions exist between peripheral T cells and luteal cells in vitro; however, the precise role of resident T cells (RTC) remains unknown. The goals of the present study were to isolate RTC from within the CL and determine if alteration of luteal function resulted in changes in RTC phenotypes. Functional lymphocyte phenotypes identified in the bovine CL by using quantitative flow cytometric analysis were clearly different from those in the peripheral circulation. The proportion of CD8(+) RTC was greater than CD4(+) RTC. These proportions were opposite in peripheral blood. The proportion of γδ(+) lymphocytes was not different in the CL compared to that in peripheral blood nor was it altered during luteal regression. There was a significant increase in CD8αα(+) and γδ(+)CD8αα(+) RTC during luteal regression. The proportion of FOXP3(+) lymphocytes in the CL was greater than that isolated from peripheral blood, and this proportion of lymphocytes was dramatically reduced by induction of luteolysis. Within the CL of early pregnancy, there was an increase in the CD8αβ(+) and γδ(+)CD8αβ(+) populations compared to those in the CL of nonpregnant animals. Based on these data, we concluded that the functional state of the CL creates a microenvironment that regulates the recruitment of or differentiation into specific lymphocyte types. Understanding the interactions between steroidogenic cells and ovarian lymphocytes within CL will not only enhance understanding of reproductive function but may provide vital clues to lymphocyte regulation within tissues.
Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and a potential orexigenic agent in monogastrics and ruminants. Obestatin has been reported to have the opposite (anorexigenic) effect. Fifty one multiparous cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups (n = 17): a control group and 2 groups with cows continuously infused with 0.74 mumol/d of ghrelin (GHR group) or obestatin (OBE group) subcutaneously. Infusions began 21 d in milk, and treatments continued for 8 wk. Generalized linear models were used to determine the treatment effect on average daily and cumulative milk production and composition, and plasma ghrelin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, leptin, nonesterified fatty acids, and glucose. Mixed models, with cow included as a repeated effect, were used to determine if treatment effects differed by week postcalving for milk production, body weight, and body condition score (BCS; scale 1 to 10). Parity, breed, week of the year at calving, treatment, week postcalving, and the 2 wk preexperimental average of each measure (covariate) were included as fixed effects. Treatment did not affect dry matter intake. Cows infused with GHR lost more BCS (-0.71 units) over the 8-wk study period than the control (-0.23 BCS units) cows, and on average were thinner than cows in either of the other 2 treatments (0.2 BCS units). Consistent with the extra BCS loss in GHR cows, plasma IGF-1, glucose, and leptin concentrations were reduced and plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were greater in GHR cows. Despite a numerical tendency for GHR cows to produce more milk (1,779 kg) than control (1,681 kg) or OBE (1,714 kg) cows during the 8-wk period, milk production differences were not statistically different. However, the timing of the numerical separation of the lactation curves coincided with the significant changes in BCS, IGF-1, and leptin. Results indicate a positive effect of ghrelin infusion on lipolysis. Further research is required to determine if the numerical increase in milk production, which coincides with the increased negative energy balance, is real.
Haematological tests were performed at intervals over a 102-hour period on bovine, ovine, equine and canine blood samples collected into five commonly used anticoagulants — EDTA(K3) at two different concentrations, EDTA(Na2), oxalates and heparin.Haemoglobin estimations on blood from all animals in all anticoagulants gave acceptable results for the period studied.PCV values were acceptable for the entire period with all samples from the bull and ram. All PCV values for the horse and dog proved unacceptable beyond 54 hours. The values from the horse were most consistent from anticoagulants, EDTA(Na_) and heparin, while the sample in heparin gave the most stable results for the dog.Total and differential leucocyte counts were found to be most consistent with EDTA(K3)-2 at 1.02 mg/ml and EDTA(Na2) at 1.5mg/ml. Samples were generally acceptable for 24–102 hours for the total counts and 3–12 hours for the differential counts with these anticoagulants. Heparin-treated blood from the bull and dog showed an initial increase in lymphocytes compared to counts from all other anticoagulants and on the basis of this trial cannot be recommended for this test in cattle and dogs.Because of the rapid degeneration and autolysis of leucocytes it is emphasized that, for valid differential counts, the practitioner should submit well-made blood films prepared at the time of sample collection.Of those anticoagulants studied, EDTA(K3)-2, and EDTA(Na2), can be recommended as the most suitable for general haematological use by veterinarians for cattle, sheep, dogs and horses as they had the least deleterious effect on the accuracy of haematological tests over the longest period of time.
A thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test procedure with reasonable reproducibility applicable to the assay of lipoperoxides in various animal tissue homogenates is described. It was concluded that the deproteinization of homogenate prior to coloration is not needed, but double wavelength measurement is necessary to avoid interference and the reaction should be performed with phosphoric acid at a definite pH near 2.0. The most reproducible procedure is as follows: To 0.5 ml of 10% homogenate of the tissue sample, add 3 ml of 1% H3PO4 and 1 ml of 0.6% TBA aqueous solution; stir and heat the mixture on a boiling water bath for 45 min. After cooling, add 4 ml of n-butanol, shake, and separate the butanol layer by centrifugation; determine the optical density of the butanol layer at 535 and 520 nm; and calculate the difference of optical density between the two determinations to be taken as the TBA value.
There is a need to standardize the NDF procedure. Procedures have varied because of the use of different amylases in attempts to remove starch interference. The original Bacillus subtilis enzyme Type IIIA (XIA) no longer is available and has been replaced by a less effective enzyme. For fiber work, a new enzyme has received AOAC approval and is rapidly displacing other amylases in analytical work. This enzyme is available from Sigma (Number A3306; Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO). The original publications for NDF and ADF (43, 53) and the Agricultural Handbook 379 (14) are obsolete and of historical interest only. Up to date procedures should be followed. Triethylene glycol has replaced 2-ethoxyethanol because of reported toxicity. Considerable development in regard to fiber methods has occurred over the past 5 yr because of a redefinition of dietary fiber for man and monogastric animals that includes lignin and all polysaccharides resistant to mammalian digestive enzymes. In addition to NDF, new improved methods for total dietary fiber and nonstarch polysaccharides including pectin and beta-glucans now are available. The latter are also of interest in rumen fermentation. Unlike starch, their fermentations are like that of cellulose but faster and yield no lactic acid. Physical and biological properties of carbohydrate fractions are more important than their intrinsic composition.
Holstein cows, second lactation or later, were gradually introduced to monensin-containing concentrate 1 wk prepartum and fed complete diets containing 15 and 30 g monensin/ton of DM for 3 wk postpartum. The addition of 30 g monensin/ton of feed decreased the incidence of subclinical ketosis from 6 out of 12 to 1 out of 12. The concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate in blood from cows in the high monensin group was decreased during the 3-wk postpartum experimental period. Acetate: propionate ratios decreased from 2.32 in the control group to 1.44 in the high monensin group. Feed intake in the low monensin group was less than in the control group, but there were no significant differences in body weight changes or milk production. Monensin, when added to the diet, lowered milk fat in one of the monensin fed groups (low) but not in the other. Milk protein and lactose concentrations were not changed by the addition of monensin to the diet. No other adverse treatment effects were observed. Two cows from each group were culled for causes unrelated to treatment; the remainder completed the normal 305-d lactation and were rebred without problems.
Methods were compared for alpha-tocopherol determination involving saponification in the preparation of feed extracts for high performance liquid chromatography. The effects of antioxidant and saponification times used were also examined. The data obtained showed that saponification before solvent extraction more efficiently released natural alpha-tocopherol from the feedstuffs than extraction before saponification. Increases in alpha-tocopherol content of 0--144% were obtained for the range of feedstuffs examined. Ascorbic acid and pyrogallol used as antioxidants gave similar results, and extraction efficiency was independent of the time of saponification within the range 5--40 min.
Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) are measured routinely in the study of nutrition and growth physiology. To improve the efficiency with which this variable is measured, a two-reaction, enzymatic-based assay was adapted and validated to quantify NEFA in bovine blood plasma using 96-well microtiter plates. The effects of incubation time, temperature, and of sample volume were examined in addition to possible interfering substances, recovery, reagent stability, and range of linearity. Incubation for 30 min at 21 degrees C for each of the two reactions resulted in maximal slope and r2 values (1.94 and .999, respectively). Percentage of recovery was 107% when using 5 microL and 100% when using 10 microL of heparinized bovine plasma in the assay. Uniform linear standard curves (r2 > .99) were obtained using reagents stored at 4 degrees C for 9 d. An equal volume of 1 mM acetate, propionate, valerate, and butyrate added to plasma did not affect results. The assay was linear from 125 to > 1,000 microEq/L. Intra- and interassay CV for the 5-microL sample volume were 3.6 and 3.7%, respectively. This modified assay provides results comparable to the standard assay yet reduces reagent and labor requirements and increases sample capacity.
Pregnancy, decreased feed intake during late gestation, lactogenesis, and parturition have dramatic effects on metabolism in dairy cows during the transition period from 3 wk before calving to 3 wk after calving. Increases in plasma NEFA occur during the 10 d before calving and may precede the decrease in feed intake. Plasma NEFA concentrations are highest at calving and decrease rapidly after calving. Plasma glucose concentration decreases during the transition period except for a transient increase associated with calving. Hepatic glycogen is reduced and lipid is increased during the transition period. Feed intake is usually decreased 30 to 35% during the final 3 wk prepartum, but negative energy and protein balances are not as severe as during the week following parturition. Prepartum feed intake is positively correlated to postpartum feed intake; therefore, efforts to maximize feed intake should begin before calving. Overconditioned cows may be more susceptible to a prepartum decrease in feed intake. Increasing nutrient density of the diet during the transition period may enhance feed intake. Feeding more fermentable carbohydrate during the prepartum transition period may acclimate the microbial population to lactation diets, promote development of ruminal papillae, increase absorptive capacity of the rumen epithelium, and reduce lipolysis by delivering more glucogenic precursor to the liver and enhancing blood insulin. Supplementing fat to transition diets does not seem to alleviate health problems associated with negative energy balance. Enhancing amino acid absorption by the prepartum cow may improve lactation performance and health, although mechanisms of action have not been identified.