The role of micronutrients in high-yielding dairy ruminants: Choline and vitamin E

Abstract

This review addresses the potential role of antioxidants and methyl-group sources in optimising the metabolic health of dairy ruminants. The productivity of high-yielding dairy cows has increased over the past 40 years and the milk yield has doubled. Such increases in milk production have been observed not only in dairy cows but also to some extent in other dairy ruminants such as ewes, goats and buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). As a consequence, in all specialized dairy ruminants it is essential to optimize the macro and micro-nutrient supply, especially during the most critical period in the animals' production cycle i.e. from parturition until the peak of lactation. In this critical phase, an array of factors can enhance the balance between the intake and demand for nutrients, although the availability and supply of the selected micronutrients is also important. The supplementation of dietary antioxidants or boosting the endogenous methyl group status, via vitamin E, selenium and choline are proposed as possible strategies in maintaining stable metabolic health and optimising milk production.

Comparative Proteomics of Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) Proteome across Species and Lactation Stages and the Potentials of MFGM Fractions in Infant Formula Preparation

“…Other studies confirmed the importance of choline supplementation in increasing not only milk production (yield and composition) but also choline-containing compounds in milk derived from dairy ruminants [12,[50][51][52][53][54][55].…”

The Physiological Roles of Vitamin E and Hypovitaminosis E in the Transition Period of High-Yielding Dairy Cows

“…To our knowledge, numerous detailed reviews about the disease risk of hypovitaminosis E and the α-Toc supplementation effect on the health of transition dairy cows and heifers have been published in the last 30 years (two databases, PubMed and Web of Science were searched using key words: vitamin E, dairy cows, tocopherol, 1990–2021, and reviewed full text is currently available online, 1990s: [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], 2000s: [ 1 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], 2010s: [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]). Based on three recent reviews published in the last 10 years [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], α-Toc supplementation has the potential to affect the incidence of mastitis, including milk somatic cell count (SCC) values, and retained foetal membranes (RFM). Some studies suggest that α-Toc supplementation at the level 1000 to 4000 IU/day/cow during the dry period can reduce the frequency of intramammary infection and the occurrence of clinical mastitis, as well as the levels of SCC in milk [ 17 , 133 , 141 ], suggesting that α-Toc deficiency may be a critical risk factor for the increased frequency of infection and duration in mammary glands during the transition period.…”

“…To our knowledge, numerous detailed reviews about the disease risk of hypovitaminosis E and the α-Toc supplementation effect on the health of transition dairy cows and heifers have been published in the last 30 years (two databases, PubMed and Web of Science were searched using key words: vitamin E, dairy cows, tocopherol, 1990-2021, and reviewed full text is currently available online, 1990s: [17][18][19][20][21][22], 2000s: [1,[23][24][25][26][27], 2010s: [28][29][30][31][32]). Based on three recent reviews published in the last 10 years [30][31][32], α-Toc supplementation has the potential to affect the incidence of mastitis, including milk somatic cell count (SCC) values, and retained foetal membranes (RFM).…”

“…The effect of VE supplementation, as a practical measure to counter hypovitaminosis E and the high risk of peripartum diseases, have been often controversial in published literature for more than 30 years. To the best of our knowledge, many detailed reviews reported in the last 30 years, focused primarily on the disease risk and the effect of VE supplementation on the health of dairy cows and heifers in transition period (two databases, PubMed and Web of Science were searched using key words: vitamin E, dairy cows, tocopherol, 1990–2021, and reviews were picked up whose full-text is currently available online; 1990s: [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], 2000s: [ 1 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], 2010s: [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]). This VE deficiency may be caused by complex factors, such as changes in VE intake and its transfer into colostrum around calving [ 26 ].…”

Significance of vitamin A and E during periparturient period in dairy cows and buffaloes-A review

“…When plasma level of α-tocopherol was more than 3 µg/mL during calving, the clinical mastitis did not occur in cows (Weiss et al, 1997). Panda and Kaur (2005) and Pinotti et al (2020) indicated that the decreasing of α-tocopherol and total antioxidant activity at parturition could be minimized by prepartum supplementation of vitamin E.…”