Grasslands: A Source of Secondary Metabolites for Livestock Health

Anne Poutaraud*† , Alice Michelot-Antalik§, and Sylvain Plantureux§ † Laboratoire Agronomie et Environnement, INRA, UMR 1121, Colmar, 29 rue de Herrlisheim, F-68021 Colmar Cedex, France § Laboratoire Agronomie et Environnement, Université de Lorraine, UMR 1121, 2 Avenue de la forêt de Haye - TSA 40602, F-54518 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France J. Agric. Food Chem., 2017, 65 (31), pp 6535–6553 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b00425 Publication Date (Web): July 13, 2017 Copyright © 2017 American Chemical Society *Tel.: +33 3 89 22 49 23. Fax: +33 3 89 22 49 20. E-mail: anne.poutaraud-naidenov@inra.fr. Cite this:J. Agric. Food Chem. 65, 31, 6535-6553 Abstract Abstract Image The need for environmentally friendly practices in animal husbandry, in conjunction with the reduction of the use of synthetic chemicals, leads us to reconsider our agricultural production systems. In that context, grassland secondary metabolites (GSMs) could offer an alternative way to support to livestock health. In fact, grasslands, especially those with high dicotyledonous plant species, present a large, pharmacologically active reservoir of secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and quinones). These molecules have activities that could improve or deteriorate health and production. This Review presents the main families of GSMs and uses examples to describe their known impact on animal health in husbandry. Techniques involved for their study are also described. A particular focus is put on anti-oxidant activities of GSMs. In fact, numerous husbandry pathologies, such as inflammation, are linked to oxidative stress and can be managed by a diet rich in anti-oxidants. The different approaches and techniques used to evaluate grassland quality for livestock health highlight the lack of efficient and reliable technics to study the activities of this complex phytococktail. Better knowledge and management of this animal health resource constitute a new multidisciplinary research field and a challenge to maintain and valorize grasslands. Keywords: animal health; anti-oxidant; chemical composition; grasslands; plants; secondary metabolites