maternal flavonoid-enriched approaches improve oxidant status, enhance milk quality, and increase kid birth weight in goats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of flavonoid-enriched supplementation (fes) on combating animal stress during a transition period. forty cross-beetal goats were allocated into mid-pregnancy (n=20) and late pregnancy to early lactation (n=20), and each group was further sub-grouped into control (basal diet) and treated (basal diet + fes @ 120 mg/animal/day) with equal animal numbers. flavonoid-enriched supplementation significantly increased catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the treated groups in both groups (p < 0.05). the supplemented group enhanced enzymatic antioxidants in colostrum and milk compared with the control group (p < 0.05) in late pregnancy to lactating goats. in contrast to the control group, the antioxidants significantly promoted total phenolics, lycopene, carotenoids, and total flavonoids (p < 0.05) during mid- to late-pregnant goats. the total proteins, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly elevated compared to the control group in mid- to late-pregnant goats as well as in colostrum and milk, respectively (p < 0.05). moreover, antioxidant exposure had enhanced the initial and total birth weight and survival rate of goat kids more than the control group (p < 0.05). the results suggest that an antioxidant diet during the perinatal period may attenuate pregnancy stress, improve milk indicators, and produce healthy progeny.