“Nutrient restriction naturally occurs in specific areas of the United States and at certain times of the year,” she said. “So, melatonin is altering the microbiome and the immune system, which plays a role in pretty much every physiological process you could think of.”Īs part of her graduate work, Swanson has researched melatonin’s role in skeletal muscle growth. “As melatonin levels fluctuate throughout the day and throughout the year, so do bacterial populations,” said Messman. In her graduate studies, Messman conducted research looking at its impact on the microbiome in the bovine vaginal tract.

One of the latest discoveries about melatonin is its effects on the microbiome, bacterial communities that live inside the body. The scientists recently published a literature review in the journal Biomolecules titled “ Melatonin in Health and Disease: A Perspective for Livestock Production.” These scientists examined over 100 studies spanning six decades to show that this hormone-naturally produced in the brain-acts in ways that extend far beyond its basic function of regulating circadian rhythm. “We saw a very limited response in the Montana cattle compared to the Mississippi cattle, so we believe these treatments may be more effective in the Southeast.”ĭoctoral students Riley Messman and Rebecca Swanson also are involved with melatonin research. “We just completed a study comparing melatonin supplements given to cattle living in Montana to our cattle at MSU over the winter months, and the differences were notable,” said Lemley. Our recent research showed that melatonin supplementation during summertime reduced body temperature in pregnant cattle, so we hope to research it further in other livestock species.”īecause melatonin controls a body’s circadian rhythm and responds to light, levels also fluctuate throughout the year, being naturally higher in the winter and lower in the summer. “At night, when melatonin levels are highest, body temperature is lowest. “Summer heat is a major stressor for cattle, and in our research here at Mississippi State, we’ve found that melatonin can potentially be used to control the animal’s body temperature,” added Postdoctoral Associate Zully Contreras-Correa.

“Over the years, we’ve looked at melatonin’s antioxidant benefits, which help alleviate oxidative stress in the animals and have implications on their cardiovascular health,” said Lemley. He has been studying how the hormone affects blood flow between dam and fetus during gestation for nearly a decade. MSU Associate Professor Caleb Lemley has an extensive history of studying the use of melatonin as a supplement in cattle. MSU faculty and students in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station are making intriguing discoveries about the functions of melatonin in the bovine body and how this hormone can help support cattle health. STARKVILLE, Miss.-Those needing extra sleep often reach for the bottle of melatonin, but Mississippi State scientists are discovering a host of other proven and potential health benefits for cattle who receive the supplement. From left, Zully Contreras-Correa, postdoctoral associate Caleb Lemley, associate professor and doctoral students Riley Messman and Rebecca Swanson, are researching benefits of the supplement melatonin for cattle health.

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