Dietary supplementation of Scutellaria baicalensis extract during early lactation decreases milk somatic cells and increases whole lactation milk yield in dairy cattle

Abstract

Systemic inflammation is common in early lactation dairy cows and is associated with decreased milk production. The Scutellaria baicalensis plant contains flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which may counteract the inflammatory state in early lactation dairy cows. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether Scutellaria baicalensis extract (SBE), a source of bioactive flavonoids, would alter the adaptation to lactation. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 122) were used in a randomized block design to determine the effect of short-term and long-term postpartum administration of SBE on 305-d milk yield, 120-d milk component yield, and early lactation milk markers of inflammation and metabolic function. Treatments were 1) control, 2) short term (5-d) administration of the SBE (SBE5), and 3) long term (60-d) administration of the SBE (SBE60). Treatments were included in a treatment pellet that was identical to a control pellet in ingredient source and composition except for the extract (10 g/d SBE providing 3.3 g/d of the flavonoid baicalin), both provided via an automated milking system beginning on d 1 of lactation. Milk samples were collected on d 1, 3, and once during d 5–12 of lactation, followed by weekly sampling until 120 days in milk (DIM). Milk samples collected in the first 2 wk were used for biomarker analysis (haptoglobin, β-hydroxybutyrate [BHB], and glucose-6-phosphate [G6P]), and all samples were used for composition analysis. Cows were body condition scored every 2 wk prepartum and postpartum. Milk production, programmed pellet allocation, and actual provision of both pelleted feeds were recorded daily. Treatment effects were evaluated by contrasts between control and SBE5 and control and SBE60 for both the treatment (TP; wk 1–9) and carryover periods (CP; wk 10–37). Total pellet offered was greater for SBE60 in both the TP (P < 0.01) and CP (P = 0.02) but was not different for SBE5 during either period (P ≥ 0.13). No treatment effects were observed for body condition score (BCS), milk haptoglobin, BHB, or G6P. SBE5 did not alter milk yield or milk components. SBE60 increased whole-lactation milk yield by 1,419 kg (13%; P = 0.03). SBE60 increased milk lactose and fat yields (P ≤ 0.04) and tended to increase milk protein yield (P = 0.09) during TP, and each increased during CP (P ≤ 0.04). Somatic cell count decreased by 10% in SBE60 during TP (P = 0.02) but not CP (P = 0.13). Mastitis incidence tended to differ by treatment, being lesser for both SBE5 and SBE60 vs. control (14 and 15% vs. 33%). SBE supplementation did not impact time to pregnancy or hazard of leaving the herd. In conclusion, despite no detected treatment effects on BCS or milk biomarkers of inflammation and metabolic status, supplementation of postpartum dairy cows with Scutellaria baicalensis extract for 60 d was effective at increasing whole lactation milk yield.

Effects of supplementation of green tea extract on the milk performance of peripartal dairy cows and the expression of stress response genes in the liver

“…The major finding of this study was that supplementation with GTE caused a reduction in the milk fat concentration. This finding contradicts the results of studies in dairy cows, in which various plant sources of polyphenols (grape seed and grape marc meal, citrus pulp, an extract of S. baicalensis) did not influence the fat concentration of the milk [10,11,28]. Based on the finding that various sources of dietary polyphenols did not adversely influence milk fat in previous studies, it is likely that the effect observed in this study is specific for green tea.…”

“…Recent studies have found that supplementation of dairy cows with plants rich in polyphenols, such as a grape seed and grape marc meal extract or an extract from Scutellaria baicalensis, can increase the milk yield in dairy cows [10,11]. It was also observed that supplementation of grape seed and grape marc meal extract in dairy cows attenuated the development of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) stress, another phenomenon that occurs in dairy cows in early lactation [12].…”

A multicomponent herbal feed additive improves somatic cell counts in dairy cows ‐ a two stage, multicentre, placebo‐controlled long‐term on‐farm trial

“…Antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects are known for the majority of herbs of HFA, at least from in vitro or in vivo studies with rodents (ESCOP, , , ; Jungbauer & Medjakovic, ). Recent in vitro (Perruchot et al, ) and in vivo (Oloagaray et al, ) studies showed positive effects of an extract of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on bovine mammary cells and udder health. The authors traced the measured effects back to flavonoids of high antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory properties.…”

“…The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) defined requirements for efficacy studies in feed additives for livestock (EFSA, 2011), but the number of herbal products for dairy cows that have been evaluated under controlled and realistic conditions of commercial farms is small. The same is true with regard to studies that focus on specific health aspects of phytochemicals in ruminants (Kumar, Mehla, & Meena, 2011;Olagaray et al, 2019;Rochfort et al, 2008).…”

The Use of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Its Extracts for Sustainable Animal Production

“…S. baicalensis contains flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Olagaray et al [ 26 ] incorporated S. baicalensis extracts into pelleted feed and provided them to lactating Holstein dairy cows at a dose of 10 g extracts/d (containing 3.3 g of flavonoid baicalin/d), which resulted in a reduced incidence of mastitis. A long-term supplementation (60 days) significantly improved milk yield in the whole lactation period, while short-term (5 days) administration did not change the milk production.…”