Potential Benefits of Boswellia sacra Resin on Immunity, Metabolic Status, Udder and Uterus Health, and Milk Production in Transitioning Goats

Nesrein M. Hashem, Amr S. Morsy, Yosra A. Soltan and Sobhy M. Sallam
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Nesrein M. Hashem: Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt
Amr S. Morsy: Livestock Research Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Yosra A. Soltan: Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt
Sobhy M. Sallam: Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: As an attempt to prevent transition-period-associated metabolic disorders and/or diseases, the potential benefits of Boswellia sacra (Bs) resin on hematology, immunity, metabolic status, udder and uterus health biomarkers, and milk production were examined in transitioning goats. From 2 weeks prepartum to 7 weeks postpartum, goats ( n = 7/treatment) orally received 0 (control, nBS), 2 (BsL), or 4 (BsH) g of Bs resin/goat/day. The results showed that both Bs treatments significantly improved the activity of phagocytes. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the concentrations of blood plasma urea, non-esterified fatty acids, hydroxybutyric acid, and interleukin-1β, whereas they increased the total antioxidant capacity compared with the nBS treatment. Both Bs treatments significantly decreased the uterine horn diameter and tended to decrease the intrauterine fluid content, indicating improved uterine involution compared with no treatment. Compared with the nBS treatment, both Bs treatments significantly decreased the milk somatic cell count. The lowest milk interleukin-1β content was observed in goats that received the BsL treatment, followed by those that received the BsH and nBS treatments. The BsL treatment significantly increased the concentration of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the colostrum compared with the other treatments. Both Bs treatments significantly increased the daily milk yield compared with the nBS treatment but did not affect milk composition or the fat-to-protein ratio. In conclusion, supplementing lactating goats in the transition period with Bs resin at a dose of 2 g/goat/day positively affected the body lipid metabolism, udder and uterus health, colostrum IgM content, and milk yield due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Keywords: lactating goats’ welfare; metabolic status; immunity; uterine involution; milk production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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