Effects of β-carotene on reproductive performance,serum biochemical indexes,reproductive hormones,antioxidant,and immune indexes of buffalo

FENG Andong; WEI Guicong; LIANG Yuyang; YAO Yipei; WEI Caixiang; GAO Xin; QIN Guangsheng; ZOU Caixia

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.16.002

Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of β-carotene on the reproductive performance,serum biochemical indexes,reproductive hormones,antioxidant capacity,and immune function of buffalo.A total of 90 swamp female buffaloes(local dairy buffaloes)with good body condition,average body weight of(550.00±45.16)kg and parity of 2～3 parities were randomly divided into three groups,with 30 replicates per group and one buffalo per replicate.The control group was fed a basal diet,and the experimental groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were supplemented with 300 and 600 mg/(head·d)β-carotene,respectively.The pre-test period was 10 days and the formal test period was 170 days.The results showed that the addition of β-carotene had no significant effect on the estrus rate,ovulation rate,transplantability rate and transplantation fertility rate of buffalo(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,the serum luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)concentrations in the experimental group Ⅰ were extremely increased(P＜0.01).The serum superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),immunoglobulin M(IgM)and immunoglobulin A(IgA)concentrations in the experimental group Ⅰ were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the serum concentrations of LH,FSH,total protein(TP),albumin(ALB),T-AOC,immunoglobulin G(IgG)and IgA in the experimental group Ⅱ were extremely increased(P＜0.01).The serum SOD and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity,and IgM content in group Ⅱ were significantly significantly increased(P＜0.05).The serum malondialdehyde(MDA)content in group Ⅱ was extremely lower than that in the control group and the experimental group Ⅰ(P＜0.01).This study indicates that adding 600 mg/(head·d)of β-carotene to the buffalo diet can increase the serum reproductive hormone content,regulate the protein metabolism process,and effectively improve antioxidant and immune capacity.