Rumen-protected l-carnitine supplementation during mating period altered metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes.

Current study hypothesized that dietary l-carnitine (LC) inclusion during the mating period ameliorates both metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes. Seventy Baluchi ewes (52 ± 4.2 kg of bodyweight and 18 ± 6 months old of age) were enrolled in this study. Animals were randomly allocated into two dietary treatments, control (only basal diet) or basal diet plus supplementation with a rumen-protected LC (Carneon 20 Rumin-pro; 20% LC; Kaesler Nutrition GmbH) at the rate of 10 g/head/day from 21 days before until 35 days after introducing rams to the ewes (MP). Feed intake was monitored by subtracting the ort from feed offered. Blood sample collection was conducted on Days -10, +10 and +20 relative to MP. Pregnancy was confirmed on Day 30 post-MP. Feed intake of the ewes in the LC group was higher than the control (p < 0.05). LC supplementation increased the cholesterol concentration in the ewes (p < 0.05). Blood urea concentration of animals in the LC group was significantly lower than the control (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 was evidently lower in animals supplemented with LC than the control (p < 0.05). Both lambing and fecundity rates in the LC group tended to be higher compared with the control. LC supplementation showed potential to alter certain metabolites in the ewes. A tendency for higher lambing rate may partly be driven by dams efficient energy partitioning to support foetal growth and maintaining pregnancy.

Rumen-protected zinc-methionine dietary inclusion alters dairy cow performances, and oxidative and inflammatory status under long-term environmental heat stress.

Dairy cows are susceptible to heat stress due to the levels of milk production and feed intake. Dietary supplemental amino acids, particularly rate-limiting amino acids, for example, methionine (Met), may alleviate the potential negative consequences. Zinc (Zn) is beneficial to the immune system and mammary gland development during heat stress. We investigated the impact of a source of a rumen-protected Zn-Met complex (Loprotin, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) in high-producing Holstein cows during a long-term environmental heat stress period. A total of 62 multiparous lactating Holstein cows were allocated in a completely randomized design to two dietary treatments, namely, basal diet without (control) and basal diet with the supplemental Zn-Met complex (RPZM) at 0.131% of diet DM. Cows in the RPZM group had higher energy-corrected milk (46.71 vs. 52.85 ± 1.72 kg/d for control and RPZM groups, respectively) as well as milk fat and protein concentration (27.28 vs. 32.80 ± 1.82 and 30.13 vs. 31.03 ± 0.25 g/kg for control and RPZM groups, respectively). The Zn-Met complex supplemented cows had lower haptoglobin and IL-1B concentration than the control (267 vs. 240 ± 10.53 mcg/mL and 76.8 vs. 60.0 ± 3.4 ng/L for control and RPZM groups, respectively). RPZM supplementation resulted in better oxidative status, indicated by higher total antioxidant status and lower malondialdehyde concentrations (0.62 vs. 0.68 ± 0.02 mmol/L and 2.01 vs. 1.76 ± 0.15 nmol/L for control and RPZM groups, respectively). Overall, the results from this study showed that RPZM dietary inclusion could maintain milk production and milk composition of animals during periods of heat stress. Enhanced performance of animals upon Zn-Met complex supplementation could be partly due to improved oxidative and immune status.

Diets containing processed barley grain as a potential rumen bypass starch source enhance productive responses of lactating Holstein dairy cows.

Effect of diets containing untreated or processed barley grain [treated with sugar beet pulp extract (SBPE) or double sulphate of aluminium and potassium (ALUM)] and different levels of rumen undegradable crude protein (RUP) on production, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of lactating Holstein cows were investigated. Untreated soybean meal (SBM) or xylose protected 'Yasminomax soy® (YAS)' was included to represent a low (LR, 4.2% DM) and high (HR, 5.4% DM) RUP diets, respectively. Experimental diet was as follows: (a) untreated barley grains with high RUP (HRCON); (b) untreated barley grains with low RUP (LRCON); (c) ALUM-treated barley grain with high RUP (HRAL; (d) ALUM-treated barley grain with low RUP (LRAL); (e) SBPE-treated barley grain with high RUP (HRSE); and (f) SBPE-treated barley grain with low RUP (LRSE). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with lactating dairy cows (n = 36) averaging 215 ± 18 days in milk, milk yield 31.7 ± 5.8 kg/day, 620 ± 61 kg body weight. Diets containing processed barley grain increased feed intake, while decreased both rumination and eating (p < 0.001). Feed intake of dairy cows on Low RUP and High RUP were 23 and 24 kg/day, respectively (p < 0.01). Daily production of milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids was improved when the processed barley grain was included in the diets (p < 0.05). Present study pinpointed that the inclusion of the processed barley grain in diets might improve production indices of dairy cows.

Peripartal Rumen-Protected L-Carnitine Manipulates the Productive and Blood Metabolic Responses in High-Producing Holstein Dairy Cows.

This study aimed to monitor the effect of including rumen-protected L-carnitine (Carneon 20 Rumin-Pro, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) in the transition diet on the productive and metabolic responses of multiparous high-producing Holstein dairy cows. Thirty-two multiparous cows were allocated in a completely randomized design to receive the same diet plus 60 g fat prill containing 85% palmitic acid (control, n = 16) or 100 g rumen-protected L-carnitine (RLC, n = 16); at 28 days before expected calving until 28 days in milk (DIM). Fat prill was included in the control diet to balance the palmitic acid content of both experimental diets. Milk production over the 28 DIM for the control and RLC groups was 46.5 and 47.7 kg, respectively. Milk fat content tended to increase upon rumen-protected L-carnitine inclusion (p = 0.1). Cows fed rumen-protected L-carnitine had higher fat- and energy-corrected milk compared with the control group. Pre- and post-partum administration of L-carnitine decreased both high- and low-density lipoprotein concentrations in peripheral blood of post-partum cows. The results of this study indicated that the concentration of triglycerides and beta-hydroxybutyrate was not significantly different between the groups, whereas the blood non-esterified fatty acid concentration was markedly decreased in cows supplemented with L-carnitine. Animals in the RLC group had a significant (p < 0.05) lower blood haptoglobin concentration at 7 and 14 DIM than the control. Animals in the RLC group had a lower concentration of blood enzymes than those of the control group. The mRNA abundance of Toll-like receptors 4, cluster of differentiation 14, and myeloid differential protein 2 did not significantly change upon the supplementation of L-carnitine in the transition diet. In summary, the dietary inclusion of RLC improved dairy cow's performance during the early lactation period. Greater production, at least in part, is driven by improved energy utilization efficiency and enhanced metabolic status in animals during the periparturient period.

The effect of adding ethanolic saffron petal extract (SPE) and vitamin E on growth performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status in Baluchi male lambs.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of the administration of ethanolic saffron petal extract (SPE) and vitamin E on growth performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant status in Baluchi lambs. METHODS: Thirty-two Baluchi male lambs (35.22±5.75 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups. The 1st (control), 2nd (ISPE) and 3rd (Vit. E) groups were respectively injected subcutaneously with either physiological saline (5 ml), SPE (25 mg/kg BW) or DL-α-tocopheryl acetate (225 IU) once a week. An oral dose of SPE (500 mg/kg BW) was also administered to the 4th group (OSPE). Feed intake and body weight were measured for 42 days and blood samples were taken on days 1, 14, 28 and 42. The lambs were slaughtered and tissue samples were taken. RESULTS: Growth performance and many blood metabolites were not affected (p&gt;0.05) by the treatments. Cholesterol of plasma in the ISPE and Vit. E groups was similar and less (p&lt;0.01) than both the OSPE and control groups. Although there was no significant difference between the control and other groups for plasma triglyceride, the ISPE group showed lower (p&lt;0.05) triglyceride than the OSPE and Vit. E groups. The highest (p&lt;0.01) plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was detected in the OSPE group, while the ISPE and Vit. E groups showed higher (p&lt;0.01) superoxide dismutase (SOD) of plasma than the control. Malondialdehyde of plasma in the ISPE group was lower (p&lt;0.05) than the OSPE. No differences (p&gt;0.05) were observed among the groups for antioxidant status of both of the longissimus dorsi muscle and liver. However, the activity of GPx in the kidney and heart, as well as SOD activity in the kidney, were influenced (p≤0.01) by the treatments. CONCLUSION: Adding ethanolic SPE improved antioxidant status and lowered lipids oxidation in lambs. The SPE and vitamin E demonstrated similar effects on antioxidant status in lambs.

Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) petal ethanolic extract on hematology, antibody response, and spleen histology in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Saffron petal is a by-product that contains flavonoids and anthocyanins. In order to study the effects of saffron petal extract (SPE) on blood parameters, immune system, and spleen histology, five treatments (n=6) were used in a completely randomized design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatments were 0, 75, 150, 225, and 450 mg/kg body weight of SPE. The SPE was injected intraperitoneally to 30 rats (10-week old, weighing 225±15 g) for 14 days. Immunization was performed using 1×10(8) sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on days 0 and 7 subcutaneously in all treatment groups. On day 15, blood was collected from the heart of rats after anesthesia. One part of samples were poured in heparinized tubes for counting whole blood cells (CBC) and different white blood cells (WBC) and the other part was used to measure IgG using ELISA technique. The spleen was stained by hematoxylin- eosin for histological study. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA program and the means evaluation was done using Tukey's test. RESULTS are presented as mean±SD. RESULTS: RESULTS showed no significant difference between treatments and control group regarding the amount of RBC, HGB, HCT, and PLT. The level of IgG at 75 mg/kg was significantly increased in comparison with other groups. No changes were observed in spleen histology. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that use of SPE at dose of 75 mg/kg causes an increase in antibody response without any change in hematological parameters and spleen histology.