Effects of Sulla forage (Sulla coronarium L.) on the oxidative status and milk polyphenol content in goats

Abstract

Twelve milking Girgentana goats were allocated into 3 groups and fed 3 diets ad libitum in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods. The diets were Sulla fresh forage ad libitum (SUL), Sulla fresh forage ad libitum and 800 g/d of barley meal (SULB), and mixed hay ad libitum and 800 g/d of barley meal (HB). Changes were observed in total polyphenol intake, plasma oxidative status, plasma polyphenol content, metabolic status, milk polyphenol content, and total antioxidant capacity. The fresh forage diets (SUL and SULB) increased dry matter, total polyphenol, nontannic polyphenol and tannin intakes, and the milk total protein, casein, milk total polyphenols, and milk free polyphenols compared with the HB diet. The intake of condensed tannins was higher in the SUL than in the HB group, and an intermediate value was recorded for the SULB group. Plasma from the SUL-and SULBfed goats exhibited greater total antioxidant capacity and greater total polyphenol and free polyphenol levels compared with the plasma from the HB group. Positive correlations between plasma total antioxidant capacity and condensed tannins intake (r = 0.43), plasma total polyphenol and total polyphenol intake (r = 0.61), and plasma free polyphenol and milk total polyphenols (r = 0.38) were observed. The correlation between milk free polyphenols and whey total antioxidant capacity (r = 0.42) highlights the role of free polyphenols in the determination of the antioxidant activity of milk. These results indicate that Sulla fresh forage exerts an antioxidant activity due to its secondary compounds that provide additional antioxidant value and that Sulla forage appears to be a promising strategy for improving product quality.

Cropping systems sustainability: Inoculation and fertilisation effect on sulla performances in a new cultivation area

“…Previous results also evidenced positive effects of grazing sulla forage on ewe milk production (Sulas et al, 1995;Di Grigioli et al, 2012) and the complementary grazing of sulla resulted useful for improving the nutrition and performance of sheep basically fed on grassland (Molle et al, 2008). Moreover, the milk of condensed tannin exposed ewes grazing sulla at flowering was high in beneficial ω3 fatty acids ) and other results confirm that sulla fresh forage exerts an antioxidant activity (Di Trana et al, 2015). The high nutritive value of sulla forage and its beneficial level of condensed tannins are reported to be associated to bloat save, faster growth rates in young sheep, increased protein use efficiency of rumen, and decreased gastrointestinal parasite infection, nitrogen restitution and methane production in ruminants (Woodward et al, 2002;Ramirez-Restrepo and Barry, 2005;Molle et al, 2009).…”

Redox status, and lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation levels in small ruminants

“…In ruminants, a relationship between oxidative stress, chronic diseases and physiological stage (Celi, 2011) and a link between energy balance, metabolism, diet and oxidant/antioxidant balance are evidenced (Celi and Gabai, 2015). Moreover, it was found that in those animals dietary antioxidant components may play a pivotal role in blood redox homeostasis and affect production traits (Gatellier et al, 2004;Di Trana et al, 2015). Table 2; * , ** -indicate a statistic significance for P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively Anyway, in contrast to human medicine, the lack of reference values for OS biomarkers in veterinary science makes it difficult to determine whether and when animals are experiencing OS.…”

“…Although studies on OS are relatively new in veterinary medicine, in numerous papers OS involvement in several physiological and pathological conditions in livestock is highlighted (Lykkesfeldt and Svendsen, 2007;Celi, 2011). However, it is important to take into account the fact that OS indicators are also influenced by nutrition, and so the nutritional strategy can play a significant role in controlling the oxidant/ antioxidant status in ruminants (Gatellier et al, 2004;Celi et al, 2010;Di Trana et al, 2015).…”

Effects of ewes grazing sulla or ryegrass pasture for different daily durations on forage intake, milk production and fatty acid composition of cheese

“…Furthermore, exposure of ewes (Cabiddu et al, 2005 and2009) and goats (Bonanno et al, 2013b) to the CT contained in sulla forage increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in milk, which has beneficial effects on human health as CT inhibits the complete ruminal biohydrogenation of dietary PUFA. In addition, due to its CT content, sulla fresh forage-based diets were able to improve the plasma oxidative status and increase the polyphenol content and total antioxidant capacity of milk in goats (Di Trana et al, 2015).…”