Higher Concentration of Dietary Selenium, Zinc, and Copper Complex Reduces Heat Stress-Associated Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Alteration in the Blood of Holstein and Jersey Steers

Simple Summary Heat stress has a negative effect on feed intake, growth, and metabolic disorders of ruminants that cause oxidative stress by the overproduction of free radicals and disturbance of the redox balance. Different breeds have different abilities to adapt to heat stress; thus, feeding them with antioxidants such as minerals can help build up an antioxidant defense system that prevents oxidative damage in the body. This study investigated the effects of recommended and high mineral concentrations on antioxidant enzymes, heat shock proteins, and metabolites in the blood of Holstein and Jersey steers during heat stress. Our results showed that animals supplemented with high mineral concentrations prevent oxidative stress and metabolite changes related to heat stress in the blood. Therefore, increasing mineral supplementation during high temperatures is an effective strategy for reducing heat stress. This study investigated the influence of high concentrations of dietary minerals on reducing heat stress (HS)-associated oxidative stress and metabolic alterations in the blood of Holstein and Jersey steers. Holstein steers and Jersey steers were separately maintained under a 3 x 3 Latin square design during the summer conditions. For each trial, the treatments included Control (Con; fed basal TMR without additional mineral supplementation), NM (NRC recommended mineral supplementation group; [basal TMR + (Se 0.1 ppm + Zn 30 ppm + Cu 10 ppm) as DM basis]), and HM (higher than NRC recommended mineral supplementation group; [basal TMR + (Se 3.5 ppm + Zn 350 ppm + Cu 28 ppm) as DM basis]). Blood samples were collected at the end of each 20-day feeding trial. In both breeds, a higher superoxide dismutase concentration (U/mL) along with lower HSP27 (mu g/L) and HSP70 (mu g/L) concentrations were observed in both mineral-supplemented groups compared to the Con group (p < 0.05). The HM group had significantly higher lactic acid levels in Jersey steers (p < 0.05), and tended to have higher alanine levels in Holstein steers (p = 0.051). Based on star pattern recognition analysis, the levels of succinic acid, malic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, 13-methyltetradecanoic acid, and tyrosine decreased, whereas palmitoleic acid increased with increasing mineral concentrations in both breeds. Different treatment groups of both breeds were separated according to the VIP scores of the top 15 metabolites through PLS-DA analysis; however, their metabolic trend was mostly associated with the glucose homeostasis. Overall, the results suggested that supplementation with a higher-than-recommended concentration of dietary minerals rich in organic Se, as was the case in the HM group, would help to prevent HS-associated oxidative stress and metabolic alterations in Holstein and Jersey steers.

Automated summary

Heat stress has negative effects on feed intake, growth, and metabolic disorders in ruminants. Different breeds have different abilities to adapt to heat stress. Supplementing with high mineral concentrations can help prevent oxidative stress and metabolic changes caused by heat stress.