Colostrum quality and
Oxidative stress
During the peripartum period, the massive modulation in metabolism, physiology, immunity, etc., frequently generates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes oxidative stress [1]. The negative correlation between maternal oxidative imbalance and quality of colostrum has been confirmed by several studies.
Some studies have shown that the supplementation of antioxidants in cows’ feed increased their concentration in colostrum, and some antioxidants have shown to improve IgG production in colostrum to increase immune defenses. Thus, in order to optimize colostrum quality, it is very important to provide efficient protection to control
oxidative stress for the animal’s wellbeing. Therefore, antioxidant status has shown to be as important as immunological status (Przybylska et al., 2007). Grape extracts are well known for the antioxidant power of the polyphenols they contain to tackle these issues.
Sources: [1] S. M. Godden, J. E. Lombard, et A. R. Woolums, « Colostrum Management for Dairy Calves », Vet. Clin. North Am. Food Anim. Pract., vol. 35, no 3, p. 535‑556, nov. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.07.005.
Trial results
Nor-Grape® BP-O supplementation to improve the colostrum quality of cows
21 Holstein cows (in late gestation) were divided in two groups:
- Control group (CTL, 9 cows) fed a ration with roughage (hay, corn silage), nitrogen corrector (soy/colza 70:30) and concentrate
- Nor-Grape® BP-O group (NG, 12 cows) fed the same ration supplemented with 670 mg/ cow/day of a commercial encapsulated grape extract (Nor-Grape® BP-O)
All the cows were fed with these rations 2 weeks before calving. Colostrum was collected and analyzed. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH method and immunity status was measured by radial immunodiffusion method with an analysis of IgG.
Antioxidant activity of colostrum (DPPH)
Colostrum IgG concentration
Observations on the cows’ colostrum
Results proved the significant positive effect of Nor-Grape® BP-O on the antioxidant capacity and IgG content of the colostrum (p<0,05) from supplemented cows.
In this study, the supplementation of Nor-Grape® BP-O during the late gestation improves the colostrum antioxidant status by more than 10% and the colostrum immune status (IgG concentration) by more than 50%.
Our natural rumen-protected grape extract to compensate oxidative stress
Nor-Grape® BP-O
Nor-Grape® BP-O is a premix of additives composed of encapsulated natural grape extracts, whose polyphenol content and antioxidant activity are protected against rumen fermentation.
