Effects of Acremonium terricola culture on production performance, antioxidant status, and blood biochemistry in transition dairy cows

The effects of supplementing transition dairy cows with Acremonium terricola culture (ATC) in the transition period were investigated. Ten dairy cows received a dietary supplement of 30 g/cow/d ATC from 14 d prior to their estimated calving date to 21 d postpartum, and 10 did not. The cows that receiving ATC showed greater milk production, energy-corrected milk yield, and feed efficiency, and had a lower somatic milk cell count and body mass change than the non-supplemented cows (P < 0.05). Cows that consumed ATC also had significantly higher plasma concentrations of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity than the controls (P < 0.05). In addition, they had significantly higher blood glucose and lower plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acid, and cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that dietary supplementation with ATC improved production, antioxidant status, and energy balance in transition cows, with no obvious adverse effects.