Supplementation of tropical seaweed-based formulations improves antioxidant status, immunity and milk production in lactating Murrah buffaloes

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation of seaweed-based formulation (SWBF) on performance of lactating Murrah buffaloes. Eighteen lactating Murrah buffaloes were divided into 3 groups (T0, T1 and T2) based on their body weight, parity, days in milk and milk yield following randomized block design. Two SWBF were tested; SWBF-I was combination of two tropical red seaweed species namely Kappaphycus alvarezii) and Gracilaria salicornia, whereas SWBF-II was combination of the two red seaweeds and one brown seaweed species Turbinaria conoides. All the animals were fed to meet their requirements (ICAR 2013). Animals in control (T0) group were fed concentrate mixture, Hybrid Napier fodder and wheat straw without any supplemental seaweed. However, SWBF-I and SWBF-II were supplemented at 2.5% of the concentrate feed of groups T1 and T2, respectively. Intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, plasma concentrations of selected metabolites, enzymes and hormones were similar among the groups. A tendency of decreased (P=0.060) plasma concentration of cortisol was observed in treatment groups. Total antioxidant capacity was improved (P=0.001) due to SWBF supplementation; the best response was observed in group T2, followed by T1. Concentration of lipid peroxides decreased (P<0.004) in treatment groups as compared to control. Supplementation of SWBF-augmented cell-mediated (P=0.002) and humoral (P<0.001) immune response in treatment groups as compared to the control group. Milk yield and the 6% fat corrected milk yield (kg day−1) were higher (P=0.002) in T2, followed by T1 and minimum in T0. Thus, supplementation of both the SWBF improved antioxidant status, cellular and humoral immunity, and milk yield; the best response was obtained in T2. It is concluded that supplementation of SWBF-II (K. alvarezii, G. salicornia and T. conoides) at 2.5% in the concentrate mixture of lactating Murrah buffaloes improves antioxidant status, immunity and milk yield.