Animals (Apr 2024)

Effects of Prepartum L-Tryptophan Supplementation on the Postpartum Performance of Holstein Cows

  • Xuening Liu,
  • Songyang Yao,
  • Yunjie Liu,
  • Huigang Han,
  • Weijia Wang,
  • Qi Yi,
  • Laiqing Yan,
  • Pengyun Ji,
  • Lu Zhang,
  • Guoshi Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091278
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 9
p. 1278

Abstract

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The negative energy balance occurring in the periparturient period of cows will impede their health and postpartum performance. To target this issue, L-tryptophan was supplied to the prepartum cows. The results showed that L-tryptophan supplementation significantly increased the serum melatonin level and was accompanied with increases in SOD activity, IL-10 and colostrum IgA levels as well as decreases in MDA and IL-6 levels compared to the control cows. The incidence of postpartum diseases was significantly lower and the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in cows fed L-tryptophan than in the control group. A striking observation was that prepartum L-tryptophan supplementation not only improved the milk production but also the quality compared to the control cows. In general, supplementation with L-tryptophan in the prepartum period can improve the postpartum reproduction and lactation performance of cows to some extent.

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