Effects of Yucca schidigera Plant Extract on Whole Blood Chemistry of Dairy Heifers

Shelby M. Collins*, Godstime A. Taiwo, and Ibukun M Ogunade
Division of Animal and Nutritional Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 262506-6045

Presentation No.: 3

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (Oral Presentations)

Student’s Major: Biology

Blood chemistry profiling can be used to assess the metabolic status of animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of Yucca Schidigera plant extract (SAP) on blood chemistry of dairy heifers. In a 32-day feeding trial, eight dairy heifers were allotted randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: basal diet with no additive (CON; n = 4) or a basal diet with 2 grams of SAP bolused daily via drenching gun (SAP; n = 4). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 8, 16, 24, and 32. Immediately after collection, the whole blood was analyzed for 15 blood chemistry metabolites using a Catalyst Dx Chemistry Analyzer. The data were statistically analyzed using SAS. No treatment effects (P > 0.05) were detected for all the metabolites; however, there were treatment by day interaction effects (P < 0.05) for blood total bilirubin, lipase, and phosphorus. Therefore, the results suggest that Yucca Schidigera extract supplementation possibly alters the metabolic status of the dairy heifers on certain days during the experiment.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's SURE program (Rita Rio & Michelle Richards-Babb)