Vet World   Vol.19   January-2026  Article - 9 

Maternal antioxidant supplementation enhances oxidative balance, milk bioactivity, and neonatal performance in Beetal goats during the transition period

Background and Aim: Pregnancy and early lactation in small ruminants are characterized by heightened metabolic activity and increased production of reactive oxygen species, predisposing animals to oxidative stress and reduced productivity. Despite extensive research in dairy cattle, evidence is limited for subtropical small-ruminant systems. This study evaluated whether dietary antioxidant supplementation during mid- and late-gestation improves oxidative status, milk quality, and neonatal growth in crossbred Beetal goats. 

Materials and Methods: Forty healthy multiparous Beetal goats were allocated to mid- (n = 20) and late-gestation groups (n = 20), each further divided into control and antioxidant-supplemented subgroups (120 mg/kg BW/day of a tocopherol–rosemary extract blend). The 90-day trial included serial blood sampling (gestation days 60–165) and milk/colostrum collection (0, 15, and 30 days postpartum). Enzymatic (Catalase [CAT], Superoxide dismutase [SOD], and Glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolics, flavonoids, lycopene, carotenoids), total protein, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified. Kid birth weight, growth, litter size, and survival were recorded. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. 

Results: Antioxidant supplementation significantly increased CAT, SOD, and GPx activities during both gestational phases (p < 0.05), with parallel improvements in colostrum and milk enzymatic antioxidant profiles. Non-enzymatic antioxidant concentrations, including phenolics, flavonoids, lycopene, and carotenoids, were markedly elevated in treated animals across all sampling points (p < 0.05). Maternal TAC and total protein increased, while TOS and MDA were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), demonstrating enhanced redox homeostasis. Milk from supplemented goats exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and lower oxidative damage markers. Neonatal outcomes showed increased birth weight in male kids (p < 0.05), although litter size, growth rates, and survival remained unchanged (p > 0.05). 

Conclusion: Maternal antioxidant supplementation effectively strengthened oxidative defense mechanisms, improved colostrum and milk biochemical quality, and enhanced neonatal birth weight in Beetal goats. These findings support the strategic use of natural antioxidant blends as a nutritional intervention to mitigate periparturient oxidative stress and improve productivity under subtropical management conditions. 

Keywords: antioxidant supplementation, transition period, oxidative stress, enzymatic antioxidants, colostrum quality, milk biochemical profile, neonatal growth, Beetal goats.

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How to cite this article: Zaib G, Zhiwei K, Yaseen A, Hameed A, Tunio SA, Chughtai MI, Hussain T. Maternal antioxidant supplementation enhances oxidative balance, milk bioactivity, and neonatal performance in Beetal goats during the transition period. Vet World. 2026;19(1):111–124.

Received: 31-07-2025   Accepted: 05-12-2025   Published online: 14-01-2026

Corresponding author: Kong Zhiwei and Tarique Hussain    E-mail: zhiweikong1987@gxu.edu.cn and drtariquerahoo@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2026.111-124

Copyright: Zaib, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.