Abstract
As an attempt to prevent transition-period-associated metabolic disorders and/or diseases, the potential benefits of Boswellia sacra (Bs) resin on hematology, immunity, metabolic status, udder and uterus health biomarkers, and milk production were examined in transitioning goats. From 2 weeks prepartum to 7 weeks postpartum, goats (n = 7/treatment) orally received 0 (control, nBS), 2 (BsL), or 4 (BsH) g of Bs resin/goat/day. The results showed that both Bs treatments significantly improved the activity of phagocytes. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the concentrations of blood plasma urea, non-esterified fatty acids, hydroxybutyric acid, and interleukin-1β, whereas they increased the total antioxidant capacity compared with the nBS treatment. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the uterine horn diameter and tended to decrease the intrauterine fluid content, indicating improved uterine involution compared with no treatment. Compared with the nBS treatment, both Bs treatments significantly decreased the milk somatic cell count. The lowest milk interleukin-1β content was observed in goats that received the BsL treatment, followed by those that received the BsH and nBS treatments. The BsL treatment significantly increased the concentration of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the colostrum compared with the other treatments. Both Bs treatments significantly increased the daily milk yield compared with the nBS treatment but did not affect milk composition or the fat-to-protein ratio. In conclusion, supplementing lactating goats in the transition period with Bs resin at a dose of 2 g/goat/day positively affected the body lipid metabolism, udder and uterus health, colostrum IgM content, and milk yield due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Highlights
Ensuring the maintenance of food producing animals health and disease prevention during their production life is a crucial farm practice that fulfils both animal welfare aspects and minimizes outbreak of zoonotic diseases, matching the approach of the One Health concept
These dramatic changes increase the vulnerability of lactating animals to metabolic disorders and infectious diseases due to the increase in inflammatory factors, free radicals, and impaired immunity [3,4,5], which may increase the risk of disease emergence among and via food-producing animals
The severe energy utilization by the mammary gland can lead to negative energy balance (NEB) and insulin resistance, which increase the risk of developing metabolic diseases, such as ketosis
Summary
Ensuring the maintenance of food producing animals health and disease prevention during their production life is a crucial farm practice that fulfils both animal welfare aspects and minimizes outbreak of zoonotic diseases, matching the approach of the One Health concept. The transition period (late gestation to early lactation) is accompanied by many metabolic, physiological, and behavioral adaptive mechanisms to meet the requirements of the postpartum period, including lactogenesis, uterine involution, and ovarian resumption [1,2]. These dramatic changes increase the vulnerability of lactating animals to metabolic disorders and infectious diseases due to the increase in inflammatory factors, free radicals, and impaired immunity [3,4,5], which may increase the risk of disease emergence among and via food-producing animals. The productivity and health status of transitioning dams during the postpartum period could be boosted by adjusting their metabolism and immunity
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