Effects of chestnut tannins supplementation of prepartum moderate yielding dairy cows on metabolic health, antioxidant and colostrum indices

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with chestnut tannins (CNT) on metabolic and antioxidant status of prepartum cows along with their colostrum quality. Pregnant multiparous Holstein cows were paired according to parity and body condition score, and assigned either to a diet supplemented with 20 g/d of commercially available product containing chestnut tannins (CNT, n=20) or to an unsupplemented control diet (CON, n=20) for the last 25±2 d of pregnancy. Serum metabolite, insulin and antioxidant capacity indices were measured in blood samples taken at d 25 and d 5 before expected parturition. Chemical composition and IgG concentration were determined in colostrum samples collected from the first milking postpartum. The addition of CNT led to lower BUN (P=0.02) and consequently higher serum glucose (P=0.02) and insulin (P<0.01) concentrations which were associated with lower circulating NEFA (P<0.01) and BHBA (P<0.01) in CNT group than those of CON. The serum paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) were higher at -5 d in CNT than in CON (P<0.01, P=0.03; respectively). Close-up CNT improved lactose percentage and IgG concentration (P=0.03, P=0.04; respectively) and tended to improve percentage of protein and SNF (Solid Not Fat) in primary colostrum (P=0.06, respectively), without affecting colostrum fat and total solid (P=0.98, P=0.43; respectively). Supplementation of CNT in the diet during close-up period did not have adverse effects on metabolic profiles prepartum. Instead, this feeding regimen was more beneficial to antioxidant capacity and colostrum quality than feeding the control diet.

Chestnut tannin extract modulates growth performance and fatty acid composition in finishing Tan lambs by regulating blood antioxidant capacity, rumen fermentation, and biohydrogenation

“…Numerous physiological processes involved in animal growth result in the generation of free radicals, which, if not scavenged, may initiate oxidative stress [ 52 ]. Previous studies have reported the antioxidant capacity of tannins [ 2 , 53 ]. However, the biological processes underlying how tannins respond to antioxidant enzymes are not fully understood.…”

Dietary Supplementation of Chestnut Tannins in Prepartum Dairy Cows Improves Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms Interacting with Thyroid Status

“…In our study, we used a model of dietary supplementation with chestnut tannins to gain information on antioxidant indices such as SOD, GPx, and GSH and thyroid hormone levels in prepartum dairy cows. Previous studies defined the antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential of chestnut tannins [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Our results show that CNT cows have higher activities of SOD and GPx as well as total antioxidants and lower TBARS levels than CON cows, indicating the ability of the antioxidant defence system and/or lower level of oxidative stress in CNT cows.…”

“…The ability of tannins to improve feed efficiency and antioxidant status in dairy cows is well known, and they have often been supplemented in the diet of dairy cows [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Tannins have also been suggested as effective alternatives to antibiotics to suppress rumen methanogenesis through their antimicrobial activity [ 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Hydrolysable tannins from sweet chestnuts are effective at scavenging ROS and at protecting liver and kidney tissues against oxidants as well as liposomes from lipid peroxidation [ 7 , 8 ]. Previous studies in transition cows have shown that total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) activity were increased in response to chestnut tannin supplementation, and lipid peroxidation was decreased, resulting in lower oxidative stress [ 7 , 9 , 16 ].…”

Hazelnut Skin in Ewes’ Diet: Effects on Colostrum Immunoglobulin G and Passive Transfer of Immunity to the Lambs

“…Conversely, the potential role of supplemental tannins on humoral response in ruminants is sparsely explored and requires further investigations. Recently, Prodanović et al [ 77 ] observed higher IgG levels in the colostrum of cows supplemented with chestnut tannins extract compared to control groups. These authors hypothesized that dietary tannins, depressing the protein degradation rate in the rumen, increased the protein portion available in the intestine, thus promoting colostrum quality and colostral IgG levels.…”