Effects of Lonicera japonica extract on performance and blood biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress during perinatal period in dairy cow.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Lonicera japonica extract (LJE) on milk production, rumen fermentation and blood biomarkers of energy metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress during the perinatal period of Holstein dairy cows.Eighteen Holstein dairy cows were used in a complete randomized design experiment with 3 dietary treatments and 6 cows per treatment. All cows received the same basal TMR including a prepartal diet (1.35 Mcal of NEL/kg of DM, 13.23% CP) from -60 d to calving and a postpartal diet (1.61 Mcal of NEL/kg of DM, 17.39% CP) from calving to 30 DIM. The 3 dietary treatments were TMR supplemented with LJE at 0 (control), 1 and 2g/kg DM, respectively. LJE was offered from 21 d before calving to 30 DIM. DMI and milk production were measured daily after calving. Milk and rumen fluid samples were collected on 29 and 30 d after calving. On -10, 4, 14 and 30 d relative to calving, blood samples were collected to analyze the biomarkers of energy metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress.Compared with control diet, LJE supplementation at 1 and 2 g/kg DM increased DMI, milk yield and reduced milk SCC. LJE supplementation also decreased the concentrations of blood biomarkers of pro-inflammation (IL -1β, IL-6 and haptoglobin), energy metabolism (nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA)) and oxidative stress (reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM)), meanwhile increased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations in blood. No differences were observed in rumen pH, VFA and ammonia-N (NH3-N) concentrations between LJE supplemented diets and the control diet.Supplementation with 1 and 2 g LJE /kg DM could increase DMI, improve lactation performance, and enhance anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities of dairy cows during perinatal period.