Effect Of Lonicera Japonica Extract Supplementation On Health Status And Production Performance During Perinatal Period In Cows

Dairy cows need to adapt substantial metabolic and physiological changes during the transition,leading to a significant increase in the incidence of inflammation and oxidative stress.Inflammation and oxidative stress seriously affect the health and productivity of dairy cows during perinatal period and even the whole lactation period,and more and more researchers have focused on mitigation measures.At present,with the double values of nutrition and medicinal,Chinese herbal medicines are gradually applied in animal production.Some studies have shown that japonica thunb extract has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.However,to our knowledge,the effect of Lonicera japonica on health and performance of dairy cows during transition period has not been reported yet.Therefore,the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of japonica thunb extract on inflammation and oxidative stress in transition cows.1.Effects of japonica thunb extract?LJE?on rumen fermentation in vitro.This experiment was conducted to examine the effects of LJE supplementation on rumen fermentation in vitro.Four healthy Holstein cows fitted with permanent ruminal cannulas were used as the donor of rumen fluid.The test group was divided into control group?0 mg/g?and treatment group?0.5,1,2,4 mg/g respectively?.Each group consisted of six replicates and the test was carried out three times.The culture p H and rumen fermentation parameters were measured after 24 h incubation.The results showed that LJE supplementation at 1,2,4 mg/g decreased the concentration of NH₃-N and p H?P<0.05?,and the lactic acid,MCP,total VFA concentration and total gas production were significantly higher than the control group?P<0.05?.The results showed that the LJE supplementation at 1,2,4 mg/g could effectively regulate the fermentative state of rumen microorganism in vitro,and improved MCP and total VFA concentration and total gas production.2.Effect of lonicera japonica extract supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress during perinatal period in cows.An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of lonicera japonica extract supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress and performance during the perinatal period in Holstein dairy cows.Twenty-four Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design experiment with 6 cows per treatment.All cows received the same basal diets,and LJE was supplied from-21 d before expected calving date until 30 DIM.The four treatments basal diets consisted of LJE supplementation at 0?Control?,1 g/kg,2 g/kg and 4 g/kg of the basal DM,respectively.The results revealed that LJE supplementation at 1 and 2 g/kg increased DMI?2.2 and 1.1 kg/d,respectively?,milk yield?4.80 and 1.96 kg/d,respectively?,milk fat yield?0.23 and 0.16 kg/d,respectively?,milk protein yield?0.15 and 0.09 kg/d,respectively?,4%FCM?5.37 and 3.18 kg/d,respectively?and ECM?5.71 and3.42 kg/d,respectively?,and reduced milk SCC.Moreover,the 1 g/kg group increased solid non-fat compared with control.LJE supplementation at 1 and 2 g/kg decreased the concentrations of pro-inflammatory biomarkers includingIL-1?,IL-6,and haptoglobin in the blood,and reduced the concentrations of energy metabolism biomarkers including NEFA and BHBA in the blood,as well as oxidative stress biomarkers including ROM in the blood.All doses of LJE increased the T-AOC and SOD concentrations.No differences were observed for rumen fermentation parameters between LJE supplementation groups and control group.In conclusion,LJE supplementation at 1 or 2 g/kg level increased DMI and lactation performance,and enhanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities of dairy cows during the transition period.Overall,LJE supplementation could alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress of cows during the transition period,and improved energy metabolism and lactation performance of dairy cows without negative effects on body health and rumen fermentation.