Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 83-94.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2025.01.011

• Veterinary Pharmaceutical Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Heat-Clearing Chinese Herbal Extracts on the Production Performance of Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows: A Meta-Analysis

LIU Zhengqing, NI Pengcheng, YANG Hanwen, YIN Shi, WANG Shikang, ZHANG Qiang, LI Daoquan, YANG Zhiqiang   

  1. Bright Farming Co., Ltd./Key Laboratory of Dairy Cattles Genetic Improvement in Southern China of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200436, China
  • Received:2024-11-25 Online:2025-01-30 Published:2025-04-03

Abstract: [Objective] To systematically evaluate the effects of heat-clearing Chinese herbal extracts on the production performance of heat-stressed dairy cows, providing guidance and references for alleviating heat stress in dairy cows. [Methods] Published literature on the effects of heat-clearing Chinese herbal extracts on heat-stressed dairy cows was retrieved from four databases: PubMed, CNKI, CQVIP, and WanFang, with the search period spanning from the establishment of each database to August 2024. A systematic review method was used to conduct a Meta-analysis of the literature. Review Manager 5.4 software and the SPSAU website were used to analyze the data of the production performance indicators of dairy cows under heat stress, including milk yield, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, lactose percentage, and somatic cell count (SCC). Then, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias analysis were carried out. [Results] Based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 research articles meeting the conditions of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected, involving 423 dairy cows. The addition of heat-clearing Chinese herbal extracts significantly increased milk yield [SMD=0.87, 95% CI: (0.63, 1.11), P<0.000 01] and milk fat percentage [SMD=0.43, 95% CI: (0.02, 0.84), P=0.04] in heat-stressed dairy cows. Additionally, it significantly reduced somatic cell count in milk [SMD=-1.31, 95% CI: (-1.68, -0.95), P<0.000 1]. No significant effects were observed on milk protein percentage or lactose percentage (P>0.05, P=0.67, 0.49). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability and reliability of the meta-analysis results, and no significant publication bias was detected. [Conclusion] Heat-clearing Chinese herbal extracts can effectively enhance the production performance of heat-stressed dairy cows.

Key words: meta-analysis, Chinese herbal extracts, dairy cows, heat stress, production performance

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