Oxidative stress status in cattle: relationship with pasture quality and nutritional supplementation

CAPPELLINI, C; SANCHEZ, S; VERSTRAETEN, S.V

Mendoza

Congreso; XLVIII Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2012

Both mineral composition of the soils and dietary supplementation are key aspects in cattle’s nutritional status. This work aimed to determine if quality differences between two pasture fields might be accountable for problems in bovine breeding efficiency. We compared the basic hematologic parameters, plasma cholesterol (CHOL) and triacylglycerides (TAG) contents, and the oxidative status from two groups of cows and their respective calves from the Chascomus area (Buenos Aires, Argentina) that were bred over a 6-month period with or without nutritional supplementation. Cows had decreased CHOL, TAG and lipid peroxidation products upon minerals and vitamins nutritional supplementation, regardless the quality of the pasture. Feedlotting calves had lower CHOL, TAG, and lipid peroxidation values, and higher total antioxidants content in plasma respect to the pre-weaning period. Grass-fed calves had higher osmotic fragility than feedlot calves, being the remaining parameters similar to those from feedlot calves. Minerals and vitamins supplementation caused an overall beneficial effect on the parameters measured. In summary, results suggest that feedlotting does not introduce a significant improvement of the oxidative parameters in calves, while mineral and vitamin supplementation decreases cattle oxidative status and overcomes the nutritional quality of the pasture.