Dietary supplementation of Scutellariae radix flavonoid extract improves lactation performance in dairy cows by regulating gastrointestinal microbes, antioxidant capacity and immune function

Dongwen Dai; Chunxiao Dong; Fanlin Kong; Shuo Wang; Shuxiang Wang; Wei Wang; Shengli Li

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2024.11.019

Animal Nutrition (Mar 2025)

Dietary supplementation of Scutellariae radix flavonoid extract improves lactation performance in dairy cows by regulating gastrointestinal microbes, antioxidant capacity and immune function

Dongwen Dai,
Chunxiao Dong,
Fanlin Kong,
Shuo Wang,
Shuxiang Wang,
Wei Wang,
Shengli Li

Affiliations

Dongwen Dai: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Chunxiao Dong: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Fanlin Kong: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Shuo Wang: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Shuxiang Wang: Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Wei Wang: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Corresponding authors.
Shengli Li: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; Corresponding authors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2024.11.019
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 20
pp. 499 – 508

Abstract

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Scutellariae radix flavonoid extract (SFE) has been acknowledged for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties in enhancing gastrointestinal microbial communities and improving the host’s immunity. Nevertheless, the impacts of dietary supplementation with SFE on the gastrointestinal microbes and host metabolism in dairy cows remain uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of dietary supplementation with SFE on the lactation performance, gastrointestinal microbes, and plasma biochemical parameters of dairy cows. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated multiparous dairy cows were used in a crossover design over 28-d periods that included a 21-d adaptation and a 7-d sample collection period. Cows were fed a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with SFE at 25 g/d (SFE group). SFE supplementation tended to increase milk yield (P = 0.067) and milk urea N concentration (P = 0.079), and decreased the milk somatic cell counts (SCC, P = 0.036). Cows in the SFE group had lower plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β concentrations compared with the CON (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, SFE supplementation increased butyrate concentration in the rumen (P = 0.044). The microbial structure of rumen and duodenum were affected by SFE supplementation (P = 0.009 and P = 0.031; respectively), resulting in enrichment of Butyrivibrio in both parts of the SFE cows (P = 0.034 and P = 0.029; respectively). However, microbial structure and composition of feces were not affected by SFE supplementation. Overall, our study indicated that dietary supplementation with SFE could enhance lactation performance and milk quality in dairy cows by improving the gastrointestinal inner environment and health status.

Published in Animal Nutrition

ISSN: 2405-6545 (Print)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/animal-nutrition/

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