نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Goat farming is an integral component of livestock production systems, particularly in regions with harsh climates and limited forage availability. Among the many native breeds in Iran, the Sangsari goat has proven highly resilient and productive, making it a valuable genetic resource for dairy production under semi-arid conditions. However, a major challenge for sustainable goat husbandry is the high cost and limited availability of traditional forages such as alfalfa hay, which is widely used due to its high protein content and digestibility. In this context, identifying alternative forage resources that are both economical and beneficial to animal health has become a pressing need. One such candidate is wild artichoke (Cynara cardunculus), a perennial plant that grows naturally in Mediterranean-type ecosystems, including many rangelands in Iran. Wild artichoke is not only a source of fiber and nutrients but also contains a wide range of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactones, which are known to exert antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Despite these promising attributes, its systematic evaluation as a forage for dairy goats has remained scarce, necessitating research to clarify its nutritional potential and health-related effects.
To address this gap, a controlled experiment was conducted to examine the chemical composition of dried wild artichoke forage and to evaluate the consequences of substituting it for alfalfa hay in the diets of lactating Sangsari goats. A completely randomized design was used with three dietary treatments, each consisting of six replicates. The treatments included a control diet based entirely on alfalfa hay, a diet where 25 percent of alfalfa was replaced by wild artichoke hay, and a diet with a 50 percent substitution level. The trial lasted 45 days, which included a 7-day adaptation period to ensure proper adjustment of the animals to the new diets. Milk yield and composition were recorded regularly, and samples were analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose concentrations. Blood samples were collected to measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as indicators of hepatic function, and to determine immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels as indices of immune response. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were assessed as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, while fecal consistency was monitored daily to provide insights into gastrointestinal health.
The results of this study revealed that the inclusion of wild artichoke hay had no significant effect on total milk yield, and the proportions of fat, protein, and lactose in the milk remained stable across treatments. This indicates that the nutritional value of the diets was adequately maintained despite the partial replacement of alfalfa, suggesting that wild artichoke can be used without compromising milk production performance. Interestingly, although serum ALT and AST levels tended to be lower in goats receiving wild artichoke diets, these differences were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the numerical decrease in liver enzyme activity suggests a potential protective effect on hepatic function, possibly attributable to the bioactive compounds present in wild artichoke that are known to reduce oxidative damage and enhance detoxification processes.
A more pronounced effect was observed in relation to oxidative status. Goats fed wild artichoke diets exhibited significantly reduced serum MDA levels compared to the control group. Since MDA is a key product of lipid peroxidation, its reduction reflects an enhancement of the animal’s antioxidant defense system. This finding strongly suggests that the polyphenolic compounds in wild artichoke were effective in mitigating oxidative stress, which is a crucial factor influencing overall health, reproductive performance, and disease resistance in dairy animals.
Enhancing antioxidant capacity through dietary means is particularly important in intensive production systems where animals are more susceptible to metabolic and environmental stressors.
Immune responses, as measured by serum IgA and IgG concentrations, were not significantly affected by the inclusion of wild artichoke hay. This outcome implies that while antioxidant status was improved, the immunological status of the animals remained stable under the experimental conditions. However, it is plausible that prolonged feeding trials or situations involving immune challenges might reveal clearer benefits, since antioxidants are known to play an indirect role in supporting immune competence. Daily fecal observations further suggested that goats receiving wild artichoke tended to experience fewer episodes of diarrhea, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. The trend nevertheless indicates a possible positive impact on gut health, which might be linked to the fiber structure or secondary metabolites of wild artichoke influencing microbial activity in the gastrointestinal tract.
Taken together, these findings suggest that the substitution of alfalfa hay with wild artichoke hay at levels of up to 50 percent is feasible and safe for lactating Sangsari goats. Production traits such as milk yield and composition were preserved, while certain health-related parameters, particularly antioxidant capacity, were enhanced. The absence of negative effects on liver enzymes, immune markers, or fecal quality further supports the conclusion that wild artichoke can be considered a viable alternative forage source. From a practical perspective, this substitution strategy could help reduce feeding costs and dependence on conventional forages, thereby improving the economic sustainability of goat production systems. Moreover, the use of locally available plants such as wild artichoke aligns with ecological principles of resource efficiency and may reduce the pressure on cultivated forage crops like alfalfa, which require substantial inputs of water and fertilizers.
In conclusion, the partial replacement of alfalfa hay with dried wild artichoke forage in the diets of lactating Sangsari goats did not compromise productivity while contributing positively to antioxidant status, a key marker of health and resilience. Although further research is needed to validate these effects over longer feeding periods and under different environmental conditions, the present results highlight the potential of wild artichoke as an alternative forage resource in sustainable goat feeding strategies. Such findings not only provide practical recommendations for farmers but also contribute to the broader objective of integrating unconventional forages into animal production systems in order to enhance both economic viability and environmental sustainability.
کلیدواژهها English
