AUTHOR=Shao Yuexin , Zhang Xian , Zhang Huawen , Tian Bowen , Weng Yunan , Huang Jiangtao , Lu Christopher D. , Shi Huaiping 

TITLE=Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Bovine Lactoferricin on Rumen Microbiota, Lactation, and Health in Dairy Goats

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.722303

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2021.722303

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=This study investigated the biological effects of supplementation of bovine lactoferricin at the rate of 100 mg/kg/d (LF-1) or 200 mg/kg/d (LF-2) in lactating dairy goats. Dietary bovine lactoferricin supplementation increased the content of lactoferricin in the milk and blood (p < 0.05) without affecting feed intake. In the LF-1 group, contents of serum Fe, total antioxidant content (T-AOC) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) were increased (p < 0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased (p < 0.05). In the LF-2 group, ruminal fluid pH were decreased (p < 0.05) and the composition of ruminal microflora on day 42 were more diversified. Firmicutes in LF-2 group was the most abundant phyla. In contrast, Bacteroidetes in the control and LF-1 were the most abundant. Lower milk somatic cell count and higher IgA content were observed in LF-1 and LF-2 than the control (p < 0.05). The observations suggested beneficial effects of supplementation of 100 mg/kg/d LFc on reducing oxidative stress and increasing diversity of ruminal microflora.