The effect of fenugreek seed cotyledon extract on milk yield and composition in Holstein cows

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) has traditionally been used for a wide range of medicinal properties of which its galactagogic, hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic properties have held particular promise. The effects of fenugreek, in the form of fenugreek cotyledon seed extract (FCE), on milk production and milk composition in lactating dairy cows were evaluated in two consecutive studies. The first study (Trial 1) was conducted under controlled conditions on a university experimental farm while the second study (Trial 2) was conducted on a commercial dairy farm. In Trial 1, thirty-nine lactating Holstein cows were allocated to three treatment groups (Control, Nutrifen® and NutrifenPlus®) in a randomized complete block design. The trial was conducted over a 9-week period. Cows received a standard TMR at approximately 50 kg/cow per day (25 kg DM) with lucerne hay and wheat straw as forage sources. Nutrifen® or NutrifenPlus® were formulated into a lactation cow concentrate to supplement 120 g/cow per day, delivered via the TMR. Wheaten bran was used in the control concentrate instead of the FCE products. No ionophores or antibiotics were included in the diets. In Trial 2, sixty Holstein cows were allocated to two treatment groups (Control and Nutrifen®) in a randomized complete block design. The trial was conducted over a 12-week period. Cows received a high-concentrate lactation TMR with maize silage as main forage source. Nutrifen® was included in the treatment concentrate to provide 120 g/cow per day. The Control concentrate contained monensin- Na to provide 500 mg/cow per day. In Trial 1, both the Nutrifen® and NutrifenPlus® groups manifested higher milk yields (P < 0.001) compared to the Control group. The milk response of the Nutrifen® group was 5 % higher than the Control treatment and that of the NutrifenPlus® group was 11.6 % higher over the entire experimental period. In Trial 2, the Nutrifen® group produced 9.4 % more milk than the Control group after only two weeks and the difference was sustained for the duration of the trial. Cows receiving FCE supplementation showed greater persistency overall. Milk fat and protein contents did not differ significantly among treatments in either trial. However, in Trial 1, the lactose content of cows receiving FCE supplementation was significantly higher (P = 0.013). Feed efficiency was improved by FCE supplementation in both trials. In Trial 1, milk was also evaluated by a sensory panel, who found no noticeable differences. In conclusion, it was found that fenugreek cotyledon extract supplementation has the potential to improve milk production and improve feed efficiency under controlled, as well as under commercial conditions. Furthermore, Nutrifen®, being a natural product, was used successfully instead of ionophores in the diets of dairy cows. As a second outcome of the first study (Trial 1), blood samples were collected on the final day of the trial from the coccygeal vein of eight top producing cows per treatment group. Blood was drawn at two time intervals, before feeding (0h) and six hours after feeding (6h). Using ELIZA kits, the plasma bovine growth hormone (bGH) concentration was determined. As the analysis kits could only accommodate a limited number of samples, the plasma of only six cows per treatment could be analysed. There were no significant differences in bGH concentration between treatments at either of the post-feeding times. Concentrations also varied greatly within treatment groups. The observed variation may be influenced by the rhythmic secretory pattern of GH. This could make it difficult to gain insightful understanding of changes in GH concentrations from single timepoint observations. From the current study it was not possible to link the observed effects on milk production and improved feed efficiency to changes in GH concentration. However, the documented and observed effects of fenugreek supplementation on milk production and efficiency bares close resemblance to that of rBST treatment and the homeorhetic nature of growth hormone (somatotropin) in dairy cattle.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenegriek) het verskeie tradisionele gebruike vanweë 'n wye reeks medisinale eienskappe, waarvan die galaktogeniese, hipoglisemiese en hipocholesterosemiese eienskappe veral baie potensiaal inhou. Die invloed van fenegriek, in die vorm van fenegriek kotiledonekstrak (FKE), op die melkproduksie en melksamestelling van melkkoeie is in twee opeenvolgende studies geëvalueer. Die eerste studie (Proef 1) is onder beheerde omstandighede op 'n universiteitsproefplaas uitgevoer terwyl die tweede studie (Proef 2) op 'n kommersiële melkplaas uitgevoer is. In Proef 1 is nege-en-dertig lakterende Holsteinkoeie in drie behandelingsgroepe ingedeel (Kontrole, Nutrifen® and NutrifenPlus®) in 'n ewekansige, volledige blokontwerp. Die proef is oor ‘n tydperk van 9 weke uitgevoer. Proefkoeie het 'n standaard TGR ontvang teen ongeveer 50 kg/koei per dag (25 kg DM) met lusernhooi en koringstrooi as ruvoerbronne. Nutrifen® of NutrifenPlus® is sodanig in ‘n laktasiekonsentraat by die TGR ingesluit om ‘n aanvulling van 120 g FKE per koei per dag te verseker. Koringsemels is in plaas van die FKE-produkte in die kontrolekonsentraat ingesluit. Geen ionofore of antibiotika is by die diëte ingesluit nie. In Proef 2 is sestig Holsteinkoeie in twee behandelingsgroepe (Kontrole and Nutrifen®) ingedeel in 'n ewekansige, volledige blokontwerp. Die proef is oor ‘n tydperk van 12 weke uitgevoer. Die koeie het ‘n hoë-konsentraat laktasie TGR ontvang met mieliekuilvoer as hoof-ruvoerbron. Nutrifen® is in die behandelingskonsentraat ingesluit teen 'n insluitingspyl wat 'n inname van 120 g/koei per dag sou verseker. Die kontrolekonsentraat het monensin-Na bevat teen ‘n insluitingspyl wat 'n inname van 500 mg/koei per dag sou verseker. In vergelyking met die Kontrolegroep het beide die Nutrifen®- en NutrifenPlus®-groepe in Proef 1 hoër melkproduksies gelewer (P < 0.001). Oor die totale eksperimentele periode was die melkproduksie van die Nutrifen®-groep 5 % hoër as dié van die Kontrolegoep en dié van die NutrifenPlus®-groep was 11.6 % hoër. In Proef 2 het die Nutrifen®- groep na slegs twee weke reeds 9.4 % meer melk produseer as die Kontrolegroep en die verskil is vir die volle duur van die proeftydperk gehandhaaf. In die algemeen het die koeie wat FKE-aanvullings ontvang het 'n beter volhoubaarheid in melkproduksie getoon. In beide Proef 1 en Proef 2 is geen betekenisvolle verskille in melkvet- en melkproteïeninhoud tussen behandelings waargeneem nie. In Proef 1 was die laktose-inhoud van koeie wat die FKE-aanvullings ontvang het egter hoër (P = 0.013) as in die Kontrolegroep. In beide proewe is die doeltreffendheid van voerverbruik deur FKE-aanvullings verbeter. Melkmonsters van Proef 1 is ook deur 'n sensoriese paneel geëvalueer, en geen merkbare verskille is tussen behandelings gevind nie. Ten slotte is daar gevind dat die aanvulling van fenegriek kotiledonekstrak die potensiaal het om melkproduksie en doeltreffendheid van voerverbruik te verbeter onder beide beheerde en kommersiële omstandighede. Verder is daar gevind dat Nutrifen®, ‘n natuurlike produk, ionofore suksesvol in laktasiediëte kan vervang. As 'n bykomende uitkoms van die eerste studie (Proef 1) is koksigeale bloedmonsters van die agt topproduseerders in elke behandeling op die laaste dag van die proef geneem. Bloed is tydens twee tydsintervalle getrek, naamlik voor voeding (0h) en ses ure na voeding (6h). Die monsters is vir plasma- beesgroeihormoon (bGH) ontleed met behulp van ELIZA proefstelle. As gevolg van ‘n beperkte hoeveelhed monsters wat per proefstel getoets kon word, asook vanweë begrotingsbeperkings, is slegs ses monsters per behandelingsgroep ontleed. Geen betekenisvolle verskille in bGH konsentrasie is tussen behandelings waargeneem nie. Daar was geweldige variasie in bGH konsentrasie binne behandelings wat 'n duidelike patroon onmoontlik gemaak het. Hierdie variasie kon moontlik die gevolg wees van die skynbaar ritmiese afskeidingspatroon van groeihormoon. As gevolg hiervan mag dit moeilik wees om 'n insiggewende begrip van veranderinge in groeihormoonkonsentrasies te verkry uit enkel-tydpuntwaarnemings. Dit was gevolglik nie moontlik om in hierdie studie ‘n verband te tref tussen bGH konsentrasies en die waargenome melkproduksierespons en beter doeltreffendheid van voerverbruik nie. Die gedokumenteerde en waargenome effekte van fenegriek-aanvulling op melkproduksie stem egter baie ooreen met dié van rBST- behandeling en die homeoretiese aard van groeihormoon (somatotropien) by melkbeeste.Master