Effect of supplementation with algae β-glucans on performance, health, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves

Abstract

Studies have shown that β-glucans extracted from the cell wall of cereals, algae, and yeasts have been associated with improved immune function. However, it is unknown whether algae β-glucan supplementation affects the performance, blood metabolites, or cell counts of immune cells in dairy calves. The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate whether supplementation of β-glucans to milk replacer in dairy calves fed 6 L/d improved growth performance and fecal status and altered the blood metabolite profile. In this trial, we enrolled Holstein calves (n = 34) at birth (body weight 36.38 ± 1.33 kg; mean ± standard deviation) to receive, from 1 d of age, either 2 g/d algae β-glucans mixed into 6 L/d of milk replacer [22.4% crude protein and 16.2% fat] or an unsupplemented milk replacer (control). The calves were blocked in pairs according to birth weight, sex, and date of birth (up to 5 d difference). Calves were housed individually, and calf starter (24.7% crude protein and 13.9% neutral detergent fiber) was offered ad libitum based on orts of the previous day until 56 d of age (end of the trial). Body weight was measured weekly, and health checks and daily fecal consistency were evaluated daily in every calf by the same observer. Calves with 2 consecutive days of loose feces that sifted through bedding were considered diarrhea positive. We used a linear mixed effects model to evaluate the effects of β-glucan supplementation fed during the preweaning period on performance (average daily gain), final weight, feed efficiency (FE), white blood cell count, and selected blood metabolites, repeated by time. A generalized linear mixed effects model was also run to evaluate the likelihood of a diarrhea bout in the first 28 d of life, controlling for the calf as the subject with a logistic distribution. We included age, serum total protein at 48 h, and birth weight as covariates. At 56 d, β-glucan-supplemented calves weighed more than control calves (56.3 vs. 51.5 kg). Treatment had no effect on total starter intake, but there was a treatment by age interaction for FE, with greater FE for β-glucansupplemented calves in wk 3 and 5 of age. There was only a tendency for average daily gain to be greater in supplemented calves than in control calves for the duration of the study. Furthermore, control calves had 14.66 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 9.87-21.77] times greater odds of having a diarrheal bout than β-glucansupplemented calves. Control calves had 12.70 (95% CI: 8.82-18.28) times greater odds of having an additional day with an abnormal fecal score compared with β-glucan-supplemented calves, suggesting that supplementation ameliorated diarrhea severity. We found no association of treatment with concentrations of serum total protein, albumin, creatinine, or glucose during the preweaning period. Our findings suggest that dietary supplementation of 2 g/d of algae β-glucans to milk replacer improved fecal status and may affect growth, as evidenced by a higher weaning weight, compared with control calves...

Essential oil blend supplementation in the milk replacer of dairy calves: Performance and health

“…Considering the various formulations and qualities of commercial milk replacers available [ 24 ], as well as the difficulties already mentioned by Constable et al [ 25 ] and Smith and Sissons [ 26 ], the calves MR-fed tend to have a less acidic abomasal environment, and a slower intestinal development, which directly influences their performance [ 27 ]. Indeed, these issues may have impacted the lower performance of the animals in this study compared to other studies from the same laboratory that used another type of milk replacer but with very similar nutrient levels [ 23 , 28 , 29 ]. According to NASEM [ 30 ] calves consuming a about 1.12 kg of DM, considering 80% from the liquid dieta and 20% from solid diet should gain around 600 g/d.…”

Microbiota and Metabolite Profiles in the Feces of Juvenile Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) from Birth to Weaning

“…As discussed above, these bacteria play important roles in carbohydrate and nitrogen degradation [51,52], which may reveal commonalities in the succession of gut microbial communities in juvenile ruminants. Previous studies have demonstrated that the supplementation of polysaccharides could increase the body weight of calves and reduce the rate of calf diarrhea by affecting the abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria, thus promoting calf growth [53,54], indicating the possibility and importance of polysaccharides for promoting gut health and growth in juvenile sika deer.…”

Stalboek Melkvee 2024 : Handboek voor natuurlijke diergezondheidzorg met kruiden en andere natuurproducten

“…zag betere voeropname en betere groei in Holstein stierkalveren die BIOMOS kregen. Daarbij hadden de dieren minder luchtwegproblemen, een effect wat ook gezien werd door Dildey et al (1997). Ook is gekeken naar de effecten van het voeren van BIOMOS aan droogstaande koeien op de immuunfunctie van hun kalveren (Franklin et al, 2005).…”

“…Vergelijkbare resultaten werden gevonden door Heinrichs et al (2003), die verbeterde mestscore en betere mestconsistentie zag. Betere darmgezondheid door toevoeging van MOS aan het dieet gaf tevens een betere dagelijkse groei Dildey et al, 1997;Dvorak et al, 1997). zag betere voeropname en betere groei in Holstein stierkalveren die Bio-Mos kregen.…”

“…zag betere voeropname en betere groei in Holstein stierkalveren die Bio-Mos kregen. Daarbij hadden de dieren minder luchtwegproblemen, een effect wat ook gezien werd door Dildey et al (1997).…”