Toxicokinetics of Herbicide Residues in Green Forages: Implications for Fertility, Health, and Welfare of Dairy Cows

Year : 2025 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 03 | Page : 48 64
    By

    Md. Emran Hossain,

  1. Professor, Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram, , Bangladesh

Abstract

Herbicide residues in green roughages have emerged as a significant concern in dairy production due to their potential toxicokinetic interactions and detrimental effects on reproductive health. While herbicides are widely used to control weeds and enhance fodder yield, their persistence in forage poses a latent risk to dairy cattle fertility. This review explores the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of herbicide residues in dairy cows, emphasizing their bioaccumulation and systemic effects. The ingestion of contaminated roughages can lead to oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and metabolic imbalances, which collectively impair ovarian function, estrous cyclicity, and embryo viability. Herbicide residues interfere with steroidogenesis, alter hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulation, and induce epigenetic modifications in reproductive tissues, leading to subfertility and pregnancy losses. Additionally, prolonged exposure to herbicide residues is linked to inflammatory responses in the reproductive tract, compromised uterine receptivity, and increased incidence of anovulation. The role of gut microbiota in modulating herbicide biotransformation and its impact on fertility remains an underexplored domain. This review also discusses potential mitigation strategies, including dietary interventions, probiotic applications, and regulatory policies aimed at reducing herbicide exposure in dairy nutrition. Addressing these toxicological challenges is critical for safeguarding reproductive efficiency and ensuring sustainable dairy farming practices.

Keywords: Endocrine disruption, fertility impairment, herbicide residues, roughage, toxicokinetics, uterine dysfunction

[This article belongs to Research and Reviews : Journal of Dairy Science and Technology ]

How to cite this article:
Md. Emran Hossain. Toxicokinetics of Herbicide Residues in Green Forages: Implications for Fertility, Health, and Welfare of Dairy Cows. Research and Reviews : Journal of Dairy Science and Technology. 2025; 14(03):48-64.
How to cite this URL:
Md. Emran Hossain. Toxicokinetics of Herbicide Residues in Green Forages: Implications for Fertility, Health, and Welfare of Dairy Cows. Research and Reviews : Journal of Dairy Science and Technology. 2025; 14(03):48-64. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjodst/article=2025/view=234753


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
Issue 03
Received 05/07/2025
Accepted 30/08/2025
Published 01/09/2025
Publication Time 58 Days
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