Influence of Quaternary Benzophenantridine and Protopine Alkaloids on Growth Performance, Dietary Energy, Carcass Traits, Visceral Mass, and Rumen Health in Finishing Ewes under Conditions of Severe Temperature-humidity Index

Abstract

Twenty Pelibuey×Katahdin ewes (35±2.3 kg) were used to determine the effects of the consumption of standardized plant extract containing a mixture of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids and protopine alkaloids (QBA+PA) on growth performance, dietary energetics, visceral mass, and ruminal epithelial health in heat-stressed ewes fed with a high-energy corn-based diet. The basal diet (13.9% crude protein and 2.09 Mcal of net energy [NE] of maintenance/kg of dry matter) contained 49.7% starch and 15.3% neutral detergent fiber. Source of QBA+PA was Sangrovit RS (SANG) which contains 3 g of quaternary benzophenathridine and protopine alkaloids per kg of product. Treatments consisted of a daily consumption of 0 or 0.5 g SANG/ewe. Ewes were grouped by weight and assigned to 10 pens (5 pens/treatment), with two ewes per pen. The experimental period lasted 70 days. The mean temperature humidity index during the course of this experiment was 81.7±1.0 (severe heat stress). There were no treatment effects on water intake. Dry matter intake was not affected (p = 0.70) by treatments, but the group fed SANG had a numerically (11.2%) higher gain in comparison to the control group, SANG improved gain efficiency (8.3%, p = 0.04), dietary NE (5.2%, p<0.01) and the observed-to-expected NE (5.9%, p<0.01). Supplemental SANG did not affect (p≥0.12) carcass characteristics, chemical composition of shoulder, and organ weights (g/kg empty body weight) of stomach complex, intestines, and heart/lung. Supplemental SANG decreased liver weight (10.3%, p = 0.02) and increased visceral fat (16.9%, p = 0.02). Rumen epithelium of ewes fed SANG had lower scores for cellular dropsical degeneration (2.08 vs 2.34, p = 0.02), parakeratosis (1.30 vs 1.82, p = 0.03) and neutrophil infiltration (2.08 vs 2.86, p = 0.05) than controls. It is concluded that SANG supplementation helped ameliorate the negative effects of severe heat on growth performance of feedlot ewes fed high-energy corn-based diets. Improvement in energetic efficiency may have been mediated, in part, by anti-inflammatory effects of supplemental SANG and corresponding enhancement of nutrient uptake.

Safety Evaluation of a Standardized &lt;i&gt;Macleaya cordata&lt;/i&gt; Extract in a Ninety Day Feeding Study in Weaned Piglets

“…Sangrovit® has been demonstrated to elevate daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in chickens [12] [13] and optimize the nitrogen utilization and feed digestion in bovine [5] [14]. In swine, Sangrovit® has been evaluated for its effects on stress response and pathogen shedding in finishing pigs [15] and ef-fects on the growth parameters in weaning piglets [3].…”

Residue Study for a Standardized &lt;i&gt;Macleaya cordata&lt;/i&gt; Extract in Growing-Finishing Swine

“…M. cordata extract (MCE)-containing products, with a bitter flavor, have been used as a naturally-derived appetizing agent for addition to the feed of production animals including bovine [6] [7], poultry [8] [9], fish [10] and swine [2] [11] Sangrovit® is a standardized preparation of the botanically-derived feed additive that contains 3.5% MCE (providing at least 1.5% sanguinarine). Dietary supplementation with Sangrovit® has been demonstrated to increase the feed intake and optimize nutrient absorption in chickens and other species [12].…”

Safety of standardized Macleaya cordata extract in an eighty‐four‐day dietary study in dairy cows

“…In a recent study by Estrada‐Angulo et al. (), MCEP was fed to 20 finishing Pelibuey×Katahdin ewes (35 ± 2.3 kg) in the dose of 0 or 0.5 g/ewe/d. Therefore, each animal received 0 or 14.29 mg MCEP/kg bw/day respectively.…”

“…The objective of the current study was to assess the safety of Macleaya cordata Extract Product (MCEP) fed to dairy cows (1,000 and 10,000 mg per animal per day), with comprehensive examinations on animal physiology and performance including the milk component as well as haematological and biochemical analyses. The doses in this study reflect the maximum intended amount to be added to cattle feed (1,000 mg/animal) and used in target animal studies based on previous experiences of feeding commercial livestock animals of various species with MCEP/MCE as published in different studies (Aguilar‐Hernandez et al., ; Estrada‐Angulo et al., ; Juskiewicz et al., ; Kantas et al., ; Kosina et al.,; Matulka et al., ), as well as a 10‐fold level above the maximum intended dosage, to access potential adverse effects from accidental excess addition to the feed.…”