RT Journal Article ID 6184d74e00136574 A1 Bonanno, Adriana A1 Di Grigoli, Antonino A1 Vitale, Francesca A1 Di Miceli, Giuseppe A1 Todaro, Massimo A1 Alabiso, Marco A1 Gargano, Maria Letizia A1 Venturella, Giuseppe A1 Anike, Felicia N. A1 Isikhuemhen, Omoanghe S. T1 Effects of Diets Supplemented with Medicinal Mushroom Myceliated Grains on Some Production, Health, and Oxidation Traits of Dairy Ewes JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2019 FD 2019-01-03 VO 21 IS 1 SP 89 OP 103 K1 cheese oxidative stability K1 ewes K1 fatty acids K1 fungus myceliated grains K1 intestinal parasite control, medicinal mushrooms K1 milk AB The beneficial properties of mushrooms' bioactive compounds indicate their potential for use as performance-enhancing natural additives for livestock animals. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with mushroom myceliated grains (MMGs) fed to dairy ewes on intestinal parasite load, milk production, milk fatty acid (FA) composition, and cheese oxidative stability. During an 8-week experimental period, 21 lactating Valle del Belice ewes were divided into 3 groups named MMG20, MMG10, and MMG0. Ewes in each group were fed hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day/head of 1 of 3 concentrates with MMGs at 20% (MMG20), 10% (MMG10), or 0% (MMG0). The ewes fed MMG20 had comparable dry matter (DM) and nutrients intake, fewer intestinal parasite infections, a tendency toward higher milk yield, and higher milk casein content (4.78% in MMG20 vs. 4.32% in MMG10 and 4.27% in MMG0; P < 0.05), and they produced cheese with less intense yellow color and a lower secondary lipid oxidation, than the ewes in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups. A higher antioxidant capacity was observed (17.83 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG20 group vs. 9.97 and 9.18 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups, respectively; P < 0.001), suggesting a higher oxidative stability of cheese fat and a probable enrichment of cheese with antioxidant compounds inherent in or induced by MMGs. The inclusion of MMGs in the diet did not affect the amounts of health-promoting polyunsaturated FAs in milk, with the exception of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, which was found only in milk from the MMG-treated ewes. These promising results merit further investigation into the potential use of medicinal mushrooms to enhance animal health and production. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,2806f82d786f0ca1,6184d74e00136574.html