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

Abstract

Forest-grazing enables the intake of high total antioxidant capacity (TAC) plants that might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle. This study evaluated the relation between the seasonal foraging patterns of forest-grazing Japanese Black (JB) heifers or the TAC levels in shrubs and trees and the changes of plasma TAC. We examined 12 JB heifers, four each of which were allocated to forest-grazing (F), pasture-grazing, and pen-housed groups. The plasma TAC level in F heifers on July 26, August 13, 30 and September 17 were significantly higher than those on April 27 and June 4 (P < 0.05). In F group, the mean rates of foraging frequency (FF) of shrubs and trees during July 5-8 and September 13-16 were much higher than that during May 31-June 3 (P < 0.05). The rate of FF of grass significantly decreased later in the season (P < 0.05). The mean TAC levels in these shrubs and trees were higher than those in grasses, concentrates, and timothy hay. Results suggest that an important factor in the increase of plasma TAC in forest-grazing cattle might be the increased foraging of TAC-rich shrubs and trees during summer-fall.

Effect of Broussonetia papyrifera L. (paper mulberry) silage on dry matter intake, milk composition, antioxidant capacity and milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows

“…The efficiency of antioxidative systems against reactive oxygen species is monitored by the estimation of TAC. It is reported that mean TAC levels in shrubs and trees were higher than those in grass, concentrate and timothy hay, and intake of high TAC plants might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle [ 10 , 11 ]. The MDA is a final product of lipid peroxidation.…”

“…[ 9 ]. It is reported that intake of high total antioxidant capacity (TAC) plants might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle, and mean TAC levels in shrubs and trees were higher than those in grass, concentrate and timothy hay [ 10 , 11 ]. It has been suggested that flavonoids, a major class of plant secondary metabolites with many functions, such as pigmentation, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity [ 12 ], widely present in the plant kingdom, play an important role in disease prevention [ 13 ].…”

Effect of Broussonetia papyrifera L. silage on blood biochemical parameters, growth performance, meat amino acids and fatty acids compositions in beef cattle

“…Besides that, oxidative stress could be very dangerous as no clinical symptoms are obvious, but some metabolites and enzymes in antioxidant defense systems such as vitamins, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) could prevent oxidative damage, and dietary antioxidants play important roles in preventing damage by free radicals in the system [8]. It is reported that mean levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in shrubs and trees are higher than those in grass, concentrates and timothy hay, which might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle if they are fed high TAC plants [9]. Many plants contain phytochemicals which have potent antioxidant activities, such as polysaccharides, polyphenolic constituents and antioxidant lignans [10,11].…”

Effects of direct exposure to cold weather under grazing in winter on the physiological, immunological, and behavioral conditions of Japanese Black beef cattle in central Japan

“…GPx activity is mainly dependent on selenium, suggesting that the activity of GPx is influenced by the selenium content in the soil of the pasture (Andrés, Jimenez, Mane, Sánchez, & Barrera, ). Similarly, plasma TAC levels in gazing cattle increase when the cattle eat various shrubs and trees in forested land that contain high levels of β‐carotene and α‐tocopherol (Haga et al, , ). However, the pasture in the GW treatment did not provide an adequate amount of herbage; thus, the concentrations and activities of TAC and GPx may not have been affected.…”