Effects of biochanin A on lactational performance,nitrogen metabolism,and blood metabolites in dairy cows

Optimizing nitrogen utilization efficiency and mitigating nitrogen losses in cows plays a pivotal role in fostering economic sustainability within contemporary agricultural systems.Biochanin A(BCA),a natural component in red clover,has the potential to improve nitrogen metabolism in dairy cows.The primary objective of this study was to probe the impact of biochanin A supplementation on lactational performance,nitrogen metabolism,and blood metabolites in dairy cows.A complete randomized block design experiment was conducted over 28 d,involving 36 multiparous Holstein cows(comparable milk yield=37.1±2.90 kg,BW=642±70.0 kg,days in milk=92±8.0 d,and parity=2.4±0.50),which were allocated to three treatment groups:the Control group(with 0 g/d BCA),the Low group(with 10 g/d per cow BCA),and the High group(with 40 g/d per cow BCA).Biochanin A supplementation improved the lactational performance of cows by increasing milk yield by 6.3%(P=0.007)and feed efficiency by 12.7%(P=0.009).Total intestinal apparent digestibility was unaffected by BCA supplementation(P>0.05),but microbial nitrogen was increased by 30.0%(P=0.002)for promoting nitrogen utilization efficiency by 20.7%(P=0.004).Milk competent yields(protein,lactose,and non-fat milk solid)were increased with increasing BCA supplementation(P 0.05).BCA did not affect body health of dairy cows.Additionally,none of the plasma endocrine hormones were affected(P>0.05).A total of 95 significantly different metabolites were screened from the plasma metabolites of cows in the BCA-added and non-added groups.After performing an enrichment analysis of the metabolic pathways associated with the different metabolites,six specific pathways were identified:bile acid biosynthesis,aspartate metabolism,pyrimidine metabolism,arginine and proline metabolism,the urea cycle,and ammonia recycling.The inclusion of BCA is suggested to enhance milk yield and modulate nitrogen metabolism by influencing relevant metabolites within the metabolic pathways.

Effect of red clover isoflavones on hormone,immune,inflammatory,and plasma biochemistry in lactating dairy cows

This study was to conducted to investigate the effect of red clover isoflavones on the health indicated by immune status and blood biochemistry in dairy cows.Sixty-eight healthy Holstein lactating cows were randomly divided into four treatments(n=17 per treatment)from 5 blocks according to milk yield using a randomized complete block design.No initial differences in parity(2.13±1.21),days in milk(165±21 d),and milk yield(33.93±3.81 kg/d)between groups.Cows were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0,2,4,or 8 g/kg red clover extract(RCE)in diet(dry matter based).Feeding,refusal feed weights,and milk yield were recorded three consecutive days in weeks 0,4,8,and 12.Blood was collected from the tail vein of the cows on the last day of weeks 4,8 and 12,1 h after the morning feeding,and analyzed for hormones,immunoglobulins,inflammatory markers,and markers of liver and kidney activities.The dry matter intake was significantly decreased by 3.7%in the 8 g/kg group(P<0.05).The fat-corrected milk yield was significantly higher in both of the 2 and 4 g/kg groups(P<0.01).Plasma estradiol and prolactin showed a quadratic effect with increasing RCE levels,with the highest in the 4 g/kg group(P<0.05).Plasma tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-a,interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1βlevels decreased linearly with increasing dietary RCE levels.Plasma IL-18 levels showed a quadratic effect with increasing dietary RCE levels,with significantly lower levels in both of the 2 and 4 g/kg groups(P<0.05).Plasma immunoglobulin A and D-lactic acid levels showed a quadratic effect with increasing dietary RCE levels,with significantly higher level in the 4 g/kg group(P<0.05).The liver function and kidney activity makers were similar(P>0.05).These results recommend the supplementation of RCE at a level from 2 to4 g/kg DM.