Nitrogen balance, blood metabolites and milk fatty acid composition of dairy cows fed pomegranate-peel extract

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on nitrogen balance, blood parameters and the milk fatty acid profile of dairy cows. Four Holstein cows were used in a 4 Â 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods and 4 treatments: PPE0 (no extract), PPE400 (400 ml PPE/cow/d), PPE800 (800 ml PPE/cow/d) and PPE1200 (1200 ml PE/cow/d). Nitrogen balance, blood parameters and the milk fatty acid profile were measured. Determination of secondary metabolites showed its high content of aqueous fraction, total phenolics and total tannin with reasonable content of saponins. Outputs of N in milk were quadratically increased (P ¼0.044) by inclusion of PPE at 400 and 800 ml PPE/cow/d in the diet. Blood cholesterol (quadratic effect, P¼ 0.043), blood urea nitrogen (linear effect, P ¼ 0.047) and milk urea nitrogen (quadratic effect, P ¼ 0.0008) concentrations decreased with adding PPE. Supplementation with PPE quadratically lowered total saturated fatty acid (P ¼0.005), proportions of C12:0 (linear effect ¼0.040), C16:1c9 (quadratic effect, P¼ 0.011), C18:0 (linear effect, P ¼ 0.083, quadratic effect, P ¼0.011) and ω6/ω3 (quadratic effect, P ¼0.007). Amount of C18:3c (n-3) (linear effect, P¼ 0.046), DHA (C22:6) (quadratic effect, P¼ 0.009) and EPA (C20:5) (quadratic effect, P¼ 0.012) were increased by inclusion of PPE. Adding PPE lowered blood cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen. Milk from cows fed PE had significantly lower total saturated fatty acid, desirable ω6/ω3 ratio and higher content of EPA and DHA.

Effect of commercial tannin and a pornunça (Manihot spp.) silage‐based diet on the fatty acid profile of Saanen goats’ milk

“…In the present study, although dry matter intake decreased as tannin increased, the protein status of the animals during the experiment does not appear to have been affected, because the total protein content was not affected (Abarghuei et al . ). The increased urine creatinine concentration as tannin was added could be linked to a likely increase in muscle catabolism to compensate for the lower dry matter intake (Keogh et al .…”

Feeding different dietary protein to energy ratios to Holstein heifers: effects on growth performance, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation parameters

“…Concentration of BUN was suggested as indicator of nitrogen utilization efficiency by ruminants (Lewis, ), which was based on the facts that lowered BUN may be caused by decreased protein intake (especially rumen degradable protein) or imbalance of RDP and fermentable carbohydrate (Marini and Van Amburgh, , ). Decreased proteolysis in the rumen, decline in ammonia production and reduced absorption of ammonia from the rumen would result in decreased BUN concentration (Abarghuei et al., ). Lewis () reported that the concentration of BUN was directly affected by ruminal ammonia production and not total N intake.…”

The effects of hesperidin or naringin dietary supplementation on the milk properties of dairy ewes

“…Supplementation with pomegranate‐peel extract (PPE) (400–1200 ml per cow per day) lowered milk total saturated fatty acids, concentration of C12:0, C16:1n9, C18:0 and the ratio n6/n3. On the other hand, levels of C18:3c (n‐3), Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid were increased after the inclusion of PPE . The milk fatty acid profile was modified by the inclusion of phenolic compounds derived from propolis extracts in dairy cows' diets because a decrease in the n6:n3 ratio was observed.…”