Influence of Oral Administration ofSalix BabylonicaExtract on Milk Production and Composition in Dairy Cows

Abstract

A 3×3 Latin Square design was used to evaluate effects of 0, 150 and 300 mL of Salix babylonica (SB) extract mixed into the diet on daily milk production and composition in cows. Three Brown Swiss dairy cows (420±30.3 kg body weight), at late lactation (220±25.1 d in milk), were fed a diet with a restricted amount of concentrate and oat hay ad libitum twice daily in equal amounts. The SB extract was mixed daily with a small amount of concentrate and fed to the cows. In vitro gas production of the diet fed to the cows was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation with 0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mL SB/g DM. Intake of oat hay was increased (P<0.05) by 11.5% with the SB addition at 150 mL/d. Milk production was also increased with extract addition at 150 or 300 mL/d by about 13.3 and 8.9% respectively, compared with control. Milk fat was lower (P<0.05) with SB addition, while milk protein and lactose were not affected by the extract addition. Milk efficiency was improved (P<0.05) with extract addition versus control. In vitro gas production of the diet increased (P<0.05) dramatically with increasing levels of extract addition with a short lag time and high rate of gas production per hour vs control. Addition of SB extract at 150 mL/d improved milk production by 13.3%, while it decreased its fat content and improved milk efficiency.

In vitro gas production of five rations of different maize silage and concentrate ratios influenced by increasing levels of chemically characterized extract of Salix babylonica

“…Extract doses of SB (i.e. plant metabolites) are expected to be beneficial to rumen function on the basis of their stimulating effects on fermentation (5,6), and this may be also due to increasing degradabilities of CP and cell-wall constituents, as well as increasing microbial protein. These metabolites may act as catalysts for fiber degradation through increasing access of fibrolytic bacteria to the cell-wall components (4).…”

“…Collection of SB samples and analysis of chemical constituents were previously described by Salem et al (5). Briefly, samples of young and mature leaves of SB were collected from several locations in the south of the State of Mexico.…”

“…Plant secondary metabolites of some plants like SB seem to be alternatives to replace chemical feed additives (4)(5)(6). Extracts of SB were shown to have antimicrobial effects and can modulate rumen fermentation and improve nutrient utilization in ruminants (5,6).…”

“…These chemical substances (i.e. secondary metabolites) have the ability to suppress or stimulate microbial growth, increase binding of ammonia during urea ammoniation, reduce odors from cattle manure in dairy barns, reduce nutritional stress such as bloat, and/or improve animal health and productivity (5,6). These resulting positive effects may improve daily gain, voluntary feed intake, and milk production (5), besides having protective effects on protein in the rumen, minimizing the excretion of nitrogen, modifying the acetate to propionate ratio in rumen fluid, and decreasing parasitic load (4).…”

“…Extracts of SB were shown to have antimicrobial effects and can modulate rumen fermentation and improve nutrient utilization in ruminants (5,6). The antimicrobial activity of SB extracts is attributed to a number of chemical substances such as alkaloids, saponins, and phenolics (4).…”