Inclusion of Curcumin in the Diet of Prepartum Cows and Its Effects on Animal Health and Production.

This study aimed to evaluate whether adding curcumin to prepartum cows' diets positively affects metabolism, immune response, milk and colostrum production and quality. Forty Holstein cows were divided into two homogeneous groups, with 20 animals per treatment, balanced according to milk production (kg/day) during the previous lactation and parity. The experiment was conducted in a continuous trial, with each groups of animals randomly assigned to one of the treatments: (a) addition of curcumin to the diet (152 mg/day) in the prepartum period; (b) without additive, used as control. The study was carried out on a commercial farm in a compost barn confinement system. Cows were fed with curcumin only during the 21-day prepartum period. Postpartum monitoring, data collection, and sampling were conducted for 28 days without curcumin. After calving, the animals had access to free-flow robotic milking. The variables colostrum production and quality were evaluated, followed by milk analysis. Blood parameters for biochemical, proteinogram and antioxidant analyses were collected at strategic periods of the experiment. We found that the prepartum treatment had no effect on the milk production, composition and physicochemical properties (