The Study on the Effects of Chinese Herbal Mixtures on Growth, Activity of Post-Ruminal Digestive Enzymes and Serum Antioxidant Status of Beef Cattle

Abstract

Abstract Sixteen Limousin×Luxi crossbred beef cattle [(199.4±8.67) kg] were used to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHM) on growth, activities of post-ruminal digestive enzymes and serum antioxidant status of beef cattle. Treatments were control (no CHM supplementation) and three formulations of CHM (CHM-A, CHM-B and CHM-C) that were arranged as completely randomized design. The calves were fed in indoor individual feeding barn with total mixed ration for 90 d. The CHM-A, CHM-B, and CHM-C was incorporated into the diet at the level of 20 g kg −1 DM (dry matter) of concentrate. The cattle were weighted at the beginning, at the end and every 15 d between to determine growth rate. Blood sample was taken every 30 d to analyze activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). The cattle were slaughtered at the end of experiment and chymus samples from various section of the post-ruminal digestive tract were collected to analyze enzymes activities. All cattle had similar average daily gain, but cattle supplemented with CHM-A tended faster growth ( P=0.08) compared to the control and other CHM treatments. Supplementation of CHM did not affect pH of chymus in any section of the post-ruminal digestive tract. Activities of pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase in chymus samples were enhanced ( P<0.05) to various extents by supplementation of CHM-A, CHM-B, and CHM-C depending on the enzymes and the site of the digestive tract. Amylase activity was increased only by CHM-A and CHM-C from chymus sample collected at the ileum. Supplementation of CHM-A and CHM-B reduced ( P<0.05) concentration of MDA, but did not affect GSH-PX activity in the serum of cattle throughout the entire experimental period. Cattle supplemented with CHM-B also had higher ( P<0.05) T-SOD activity in the serum at day 30 and 60 as compared with the control and the other two CHM treatments. Chinese herbal mixtures supplemented at the levels of 20 g kg −1 DM of concentrate increased post-ruminal digestive enzymes activity and enhanced serum antioxidant status. Inclusion of CHM-A and CHM-B in the diet may be favourable for ruminant production.