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Meta-Analysis of Incorporating Glucosinolates into Diets and Their Effects on Ruminant Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, Methane Emissions, Milk Composition, and Metabolic Biochemical Attributes
by
, , , , , , ,
Min Gao
1,2
,
Agung Irawan
3
,
Mohamed El-Sherbiny
4,5
,
Małgorzata Szumacher-Strabel
6,
Adam Cieślak
6,
Muhammad Ariana Setiawan
7,
Hassan Jallal
8,
Isa Fusaro
8,
Anuraga Jayanegara
9,
Yulianri Rizki Yanza
7,* and
Yongbin Liu
1,2,10,* 1
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
2
National Sheep Genetic Evaluation Center, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China
3
Vocational School, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
4
Department of Dairy Science, National Research Centre, 33 Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
5
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 9, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
6
Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
7
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia
8
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
9
Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
10
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101480
Submission received: 8 March 2025
/
Revised: 28 April 2025
/
Accepted: 7 May 2025
/
Published: 20 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
Simple Summary
Brassica-derived feed has garnered attention as a cost-effective and sustainable source of protein for ruminants. However, its utilization is constrained by glucosinolates, which are naturally occurring compounds that exhibit both beneficial and detrimental effects on animal health and performance. The impact of glucosinolates remains ambiguous because of inconsistent findings in previous studies. This study analyzed data from 36 research articles to evaluate the influence of glucosinolates on ruminant growth, digestion, milk composition, and methane emissions. These results demonstrated that glucosinolate intake enhanced nutrient digestibility and elevated milk urea nitrogen levels. Furthermore, methane emissions decreased with increased glucosinolate intake. However, the effects varied depending on the source and quantity of glucosinolates, as well as the animal species and dietary composition. These findings elucidate the potential of glucosinolate-containing feeds to enhance ruminant nutrition, mitigate environmental impacts, and underscore the need for careful formulation to optimize benefits and minimize risks. This study contributes to the development of more sustainable livestock feeding strategies that may improve animal productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Abstract
Brassica-derived feeds have been recognized for their economic and environmental benefits in ruminant nutrition. However, their utilization is constrained by the presence of glucosinolates and sulfur-containing compounds that exhibit both beneficial and adverse effects. This meta-analysis included 36 studies that evaluated the impact of glucosinolate intake on ruminant performance, nutrient digestibility, milk composition, and methane emissions. This analysis, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, revealed that glucosinolate supplementation resulted in a quadratic increase in milk urea nitrogen concentration (p = 0.017). Additionally, significant interactions between glucosinolate level and source influenced crude protein digestibility (p = 0.026). Milk composition parameters, including 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, milk protein, and lactose proportions, were significantly affected (p < 0.05). Furthermore, methane emissions (g/kg DMI) decreased quadratically with increasing glucosinolate intake (p = 0.003), with additional interactions observed between dietary treatments and animal species (p = 0.029). Propionate and isobutyrate concentrations increased in a quadratic and linear manner, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that glucosinolate-containing feed can enhance nutrient utilization and mitigate methane emissions in ruminants. However, the magnitude of these effects is dependent on the glucosinolate dosage, source, animal species, and dietary composition, necessitating further research to optimize their use in ruminant nutrition.
