Reproductive efficiency, milk production, health status, antioxidant capacity, lipid profile, and metabolic hormones of lactating cows treated with coenzyme q10 and l-carnitine

Abstract

| The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive performance, milk production, and health status of lactating cows. Multiparous Friesian cows (n=21) with 2-4 parities at late pregnancy were divided into three groups (7 in each). Cows in the first group were fed a basal ration (control, G1), while those in G2 and G3 were fed the same diet and received an oral dose of 1.5 mg CoQ10 and 100 mg LC per kg BW, respectively. Treatment lasted for 30 d prepartum to 120 d postpartum. Results show that LC increased (P<0.05) daily milk yield, body weight of dams and their calves at calving, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, glucose, total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, triiodothyronine (T3 ), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin, glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, erythrocyte, and leukocyte counts, as well as hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) concentration. On the other hand, placental drop, uterine involution, days to cervical closer, postpartum 1st estrus interval, service period and the number of services/conception, days open, calving interval, serum cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were decreased (P<0.05) by LC treatment. Treatment of CoQ10 followed the beneficial effects of LC treatment on most parameters studied. In conclusion, oral pre-and post-partum administration of LC (100 mg/kg BW) may use as a useful tool for improving milk production and reproductive efficiencies, energy metabolism, and antioxidant status of lactating cows during the early postpartum period.