Increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity of grazing Japanese Black heifers and cows in forestland in Japan

Abstract

Blood total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has become a key bio-marker for animal health. Forest-grazing cattle are known to forage various native plants that have high TAC. This study evaluated differences of plasma TAC between forest-grazing (FG) and pasture-grazing cattle (PG). Experiment 1 monitored the plasma TAC levels of 32 Japanese Black cattle. The level in PG did not change throughout the grazing period. However, that in FG, which increased from summer, was significantly higher than that in PG through fall (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, we used nine Japanese Black heifers and investigated their blood antioxidant parameters and the TAC in plants that the cattle consumed in late June and September. The plasma TAC levels in FG were significantly higher than those in PG in both periods (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of lipid peroxidation in FG tended to be lower than that in PG (P = 0.098). Furthermore, the TAC levels in various species of shrubs and trees consumed by FG were higher than those in pasture grasses. Results of this study show that plasma TAC of grazing Japanese Black cattle in forestland increase from summer through fall.

Seasonal foraging patterns of forest‐grazing Japanese Black heifers with increased plasma total antioxidant capacity

“…We used the same forestland (4.0 ha) and pasture (1.0 ha) as those used in our previous study (refer to Haga et al 2014 for vegetation information). Grazing experiments were conducted on the forestland and pasture located in Nasushiobara, Tochigi in the north Kanto region of eastern Japan (latitude 36.92°N, longitude 139.93°E).…”

“…We conducted observations of foraging behaviors of heifers in the F group and the collection of plants sampled in the forestland among four grazing periods based on results of the change of plasma TAC level of the F group observed in our previous study (Haga et al 2014). Each observation period (for 4 days per period) was May 31 -June 3, July 5-8, August 9-12, and September 13-16.…”

“…Several types of shrubs and trees are used as medicinal plants with high total antioxidant capacity (TAC; Han et al 2004). From an earlier study, we found that the TAC levels in various shrub and tree species consumed preferably by grazing Japanese Black (JB) cattle in forestland were higher than those in mixed pasture grasses (Haga et al 2014). Consequently, forest-grazing enables the intake of high-TAC plants that might be beneficial to the antioxidant status of cattle.…”

“…From an earlier study, we found that the TAC levels in various shrub and tree species consumed preferably by grazing Japanese Black (JB) cattle in forestland were higher than those in mixed pasture grasses (Haga et al 2014). We also found that the plasma TAC of forest-grazing JB cattle increased greatly and body temperature and plasma lipid peroxidation levels tended to be lower during summer-fall (Haga et al 2014). We also found that the plasma TAC of forest-grazing JB cattle increased greatly and body temperature and plasma lipid peroxidation levels tended to be lower during summer-fall (Haga et al 2014).…”

Kısa Süreli PRID Uygulanan Düvelerde Bazı Oksidatif Stres Parametrelerinin Değerlendirilmesi

“…NO is mostly produced by macrophage, neutrophil and mast cells [2,8,9] . Studies performed on cattle have reported that OS factors increase when the animals become sick [9][10][11] . Other studies have shown that the level of OS factors increases in cases of retentio secundinarum, mastitis, subclinical mastitis, udder edema, anestrus, repeat breeders, follicular cysts and metabolic diseases [1,7,[12][13][14][15] .…”