The Impact of Dietary Magnesium Butyrate Supplementation for Holstein Cows During the Critical Pre-Calving Period on Hematology, Phagocytosis, Antioxidant Capacity and Other Blood Parameters

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary magnesium butyrate (MgB) supplementation for three weeks pre-calving on peripartum hematological profile, immune and biochemical parameters of Holstein cows. Thirty-four dry-pregnant multi-parous Holstein cows were randomly divided into a control group that received the basal diets (BD) and MgB group that received the BD supplemented with Mg for three weeks before expected calving. No statistically significant differences (P≥0.05) were observed between the control and MgB-supplemented group for any of the measured hematological parameters or serum total protein, either in the pre-calving or post-calving periods. Pre-and post-partum cows fed on MgB-containing diet exhibited a numerical (P≥0.05) elevation of blood lymphocytes%, eosinophils%, and phagocytosis compared to the control cows. Serum liver-related enzymes (glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT)) and kidney function related parameters (uric acid and urea) were lower in MgB received group at all experimental periods with a significant (P < 0.05) effect for average pre-partum GOT, post-partum GPT and average pre and post calving urea. The dietary MgB supplementation non-significantly (P≥0.05) reduced the peri-calving serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the serum catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) antioxidant enzymes concentrations of Holstein cows. It could be concluded that, the dietary MgB supplementation had hepatoprotective effect, reduced uric acid and urea coupled with enhanced the Holstein dairy cow immunity and antioxidant status