Dietary fenugreek seed extract improves dry matter intake, apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, and alters whole blood transcriptome of Holstein dairy heifers.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a fenugreek seed extract (SAP) as a source of saponins on dry matter intake, blood metabolites, apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, and whole blood transcriptome of Holstein dairy heifers. Eight heifers (BW = 477 ± 23.8 kg) were stratified by BW and then randomly assigned to one of two treatments in a cross-over design with two 35-d experimental periods and a 14-d wash-out between the two periods. The heifers were housed individually in eight dry lot pens. Each pen was equipped with one GrowSafe intake node. Treatments were 1) corn silage-based diet with no additive (CON) and 2) corn silage-based diet plus 2 g per hd per d of SAP. Dairy heifers fed supplemental SAP had higher (P<

SUBMITTER: Taiwo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9616123 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature