Boswellia sacra resin as a phytogenic feed supplement to enhance ruminal fermentation, milk yield, and metabolic energy status of early lactating goats
2021
Soltan, Y.A. | Morsy, A.S. | Hashem, N.M. | Sallam, S.M.
Boswellia sacra resin (BS) is well known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and hence could be used as an efficient dietary feed additive for ruminants during the transition period. This study was conducted to determine the effects of BS by characterizing the ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, milk production, and energy status of early lactating goats fed different levels of BS. A total of 21 late pregnant Nubian goats (initial body weight 26.3 ± 3.9 kg) were stratified using a completely randomized design to the following three dietary treatments (n = 7 does/treatment): control (without supplementation of BS) and BS treatments; low BS and high BS received 2 and 4 g BS/day/animal, respectively. The treatments were started 2 weeks before parturition and continued till 7 weeks postpartum. Constituents with high biological activity (e.g., bisabolene, limonene, α-pinene, and α- and β-amyrins) were the most abundant components found in experimental BS. Linear reductions (P < 0.01) in acetate molar proportions consistent with linear increases (P < 0.01) in propionate molar proportions and linear (P = 0.01) decreases in total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAS) concentrations by BS treatments. The branched-chain volatile fatty acids were quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) by BS supplementation compared with the control. Supplementation of BS resulted in linear decreases (P < 0.01) in blood plasma glucose, nonesterified free fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations compared with control. Treatment of BS resulted in linear increases (P < 0.05) in milk yield, energy-corrected milk, net energy for lactation, and feed efficiency without causing adverse effects on nutrient digestibility or dry matter intake compared with control. Goats fed BS had linear reduction (P = 0.04) in milk somatic cell count values compared with control. These results suggested that BS could be used as a novel promising natural dietary feed additive to support the transition of goats from late pregnancy to lactation.
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