| Summary: | 碩士 === 東海大學 === 畜產與生物科技學系 === 96 === This study was conducted to choose a suitable plant to produce high melatonin milk. In trial I, 25 female Holstein cows were randomly allotted into four treatment groups and a control group. Cows in treatment groups were fed 100 g dry Chrysanthemum at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 hr before afternoon-milking, respectively, while the controls were not fed the Chrysanthemum. Melatonin levels in raw milk and serum were determined by ELISA. Results showed that melatonin levels in milk collected at 0.5 and 1.5 hr after chrysanthemum feeding were slightly but not significantly lower than in the control (P > 0.05), and melatonin levels in serum collected at 3.5 hr after chrysanthemum feeding was higher but not significantly than in the control (P > 0.05). In trial II, 25 female Holstein cows were randomly allotted into four treatment groups and a control group. Cows in treatments were fed 2 kg fresh mulberry leaf at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hr before afternoon-milking, respectively, while the controls were not fed the leaf. Results showed that melatonin level in milk collected at 4 hr after mulberry leaf feeding was 2.5 times the control, though the difference was not significant (26.6 vs. 10.5 pg/mL; P > 0.05). In trial III, 36 female Holstein cows were randomly allotted into five treatment groups and a control group. Cows in treatment groups were fed 500 g mulberry leaf powder at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hr before afternoon-milking, respectively, while the controls were not fed the powder. Results showed that melatonin levels in milk collected at 3, 4 and 5 hr after feeding the powder decreased slightly but not significantly (P > 0.05), and melatonin levels in serum collected at 4 and 5 hr after feeding the powder decreased slightly but not significantly (P > 0.05). In trial Ⅳ, 36 female Holstein cows were randomly allotted into five treatment groups and a control group. Cows in treatment groups were fed 2 kg fresh mulberry leaf at 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 hr before morning-milking, respectively, while the controls were not fed the leaf. Results showed that melatonin levels in milk collected after mulberry feeding were not significantly different from the control (P > 0.05). It is concluded that chrysanthemum and mulberry leaf powder are not suitable for the production of high melatonin milk. High melatonin milk may be obtained after fresh mulberry leaf feeding in some cows; however, the mulberry leaf feeding is not a reliable practice for the production of high melatonin milk due to the large variety.
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