Novel Feed Supplement Improved Metabolic Hormones, Antioxidant Activity, Immune Response and Gene Expression in Postpartum Cows

Abstract

This study was taken up to assess the efficacy of a customized novel feed supplement on circulating concentration of metabolic hormones, antioxidant activity, immune response and expression of immune related cytokines and genes involved in energy metabolism in early postpartum dairy cows. Postpartum crossbred lactating cows (N=12) were equally and randomly allocated to CON (control) and NFS (Novel Feed Supplement) groups. The cattle in CON group were fed on green fodder and wheat straw-based diet with concentrate mixture, whereas, cattle in NFS group were fed according to CON group with additional novel feed supplement @ 0.25% of BW. The feeding trials was continued from 60 days post-partum to 150 days lactation period (total experimental period was 90 days). Circulating concentration of T3, T4, GH and IGF-1 hormones were significantly (P<0.05) increased in NFS than CON group. The cows fed NFS diet exhibited significantly (P<0.001) enhanced antioxidant activity than their counterpart fed CON diet. Cell mediated immune response and fold expression of immune related cytokines were significantly (P<0.05) improved in NFS fed cows implicating an improved immune response. The fold expression of LEP gene was higher (P<0.001) and GHRL gene was lower (P<0.001) in NFS than CON groups. Thus, it can be concluded that, dietary inclusion of the novel feed supplement @ 0.25% of BW significantly improved the circulating concentration of metabolic hormones, antioxidant activity, immunity and overall health of lactating crossbred cattle during early lactation period. © 2024, Indian journals. All rights reserved.