Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a diet supplemented with fresh amla fruit as a natural feed additive on blood metabolic parameters, milk antioxidant capacity, and milk fatty acid (FA) proportions in lactating dairy cows. Eight ruminally cannulated mid-lactation dairy cows were used in a repeated crossover design. The first group of four cows received total mixed ration (TMR) feed without fresh amla fruit (control group). The remaining four cows sequentially supplemented fresh amla fruit (FAF) at three levels (200, 400, then 600 g/d) (treatment group) at 14-day intervals. In second period, control and treatment groups were exchanged. The first ten days were adjusted to diet adaptation for each sub-period, and the last four days for sampling milk and blood. A total of 514 metabolites were detected from FAF using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The five main metabolites in FAF were phenolic acids (22%), flavonoids (20%), lipids (20%), amino acids and derivatives (9%), and tannins (7%). Amla fruit supplementation reduced total saturated fatty acid and the omega-6/omega-3 ratio at 200 or 400 g/d FAF dose compared to controls. In addition, amla fruit increased unsaturated FA, such as C20:5 (Eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and C22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), and branched-chain FA in a dose-dependent manner at 200 or 400 g/d compared to controls. In addition, amla fruit increased the antioxidant capacity biomarkers in the blood, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and albumin; this confirms that amla fruit is an excellent antioxidant, inhibiting reactive oxygen species’ (ROS) metabolism, and can thereby protect cells from oxidative stress. Moreover, the most remarkable improvement of ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in milk was recorded at 400 g/d FAF doses compared to controls. Therefore, fresh amla fruit doses for lactating cows at 400 g/d on an as-fed basis can be used as an alternative additive feed in dairy cow diets to improve antioxidant capacity, protein efficiency, butter quality, and to produce more desirable milk fatty acid profiles for human consumption.
Highlights
Plants and fruits naturally contain polyphenols such as tannins, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties that can boost the health and productivity of animals [1–3]
We previously reported that fresh amla fruit supplementation did not affect feed intake by Holstein dairy cows, but it had a dose-dependent effect on milk production, milk composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, milk nitrogen efficiency, milk urea nitrogen, ruminal short chain fatty acid production, ammonia production, and protozoal counts [28]
The total proportion of branched chain fatty acid (FA) (BCFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and unsaturated FA were increased quadratically (p < 0.001, 0.02,
Summary
Plants and fruits naturally contain polyphenols such as tannins, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties that can boost the health and productivity of animals [1–3]. Antioxidants 2022, 11, 485 mixing phytogenics or tannins in ruminant animals’ diets has been found to modulate ruminal biohydrogenation, resulting in increased levels of health-promoting fatty acids in milk [4–8], such as very long chain n-3 fatty acids (FA) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6 ). Milk OBCFAs are beneficial for human patients with cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes [10]. Natural phenolic compounds can be transferred from plant diets to ruminant milk, increasing milk antioxidant capacity and providing a promising strategy for improving product quality [13–15]. Polyphenol supplementation can produce a beneficial effect by making milk products healthier for human consumption
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