The Potential Impacts of Antioxidant Micronutrients on Productive and Reproductive Performances of Mammalian Species during Stressful Conditions

Abstract

Background: The antioxidant micronutrients supplementation to mammalian species during stressful condition have gained great attention of nutritionists to alleviate stressful peri parturient factors, which negatively effect on productive and reproductive performances in subtropics. Methods: The antioxidant micronutrients given to mammalian species refer to minerals (copper, zinc and selenium) and vitamins (vitamins A, C and E). The balanced diet needs an adequate amount of antioxidant micronutrients during stressful conditions for mammalian species. Result: The antioxidant micronutrients are played pivotal roles for body functions especially during transitional period in ruminants. They are given to improve quality of feed, cell functions, carbohydrates, protein and metabolism. Changes in animals’ production, reproduction and therapeutic performances have been confirmed over antioxidant micronutrients supplementations. The antioxidant micronutrients change feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and energy production. Such increases in feed digestibility and growth performance resulted in improvement of oocyte, embryo and fetus qualities. In addition, blood cells and plasma biochemistry, immunity and therapeutic performances were altered due to antioxidant micronutrient supplementation. Hence, the review article was designed to collect, consolidate and discuss the effects of antioxidant micronutrient supplementation on productive, reproductive and therapeutic performances on ruminant species during transitional period in subtropics.