The Impact of Inulin and a Novel Synbiotic (Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain 1026 and Inulin) on the Development and Functional State of the Gastrointestinal Canal of Calves

Abstract

Successful management of the dairy industry is closely related to rearing healthy calves. The proper development of the gastrointestinal canal is crucial to reach this goal. One of the strategies to promote this development is the addition of feed additives to the diet. This research aimed to determine the impact of prebiotic inulin and a new, not commercially available synbiotic (mix of prebiotic inulin and probiotic S. cerevisiae strain 1026) on the development of the gastrointestinal canal of calves by comparing the weight of the stomach, its relative ratio to body weight and evaluating pH, and histological changes in different parts of the gastrointestinal canal and assess whether or not the addition of inulin to the yeast S. cerevisiae improves the abovementioned parameters. We used prebiotic inulin (6 g) and a synbiotic (prebiotic inulin 6 g and probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 1026, 5 g). The 56-day long research was conducted with fifteen crossbreed calves (32 ± 6 days old) organized in the control group (CoG), the prebiotic group (PreG), and the synbiotic group (SynG). We determined pH, morphological parameters of different parts of the digestive canal, and morphometric parameters of the stomach. The addition of prebiotic inulin to calves’ diet causes the increase of pH in rumen, abomasum, and intestines but when inulin was added to S. cerevisiae, pH decreased and was even lower than in the control group. Prebiotic inulin and its synbiotic with yeast S. cerevisiae positively impact the development of almost all morphological structures of rumen saccus dorsalis, rumen saccus ventralis, and intestine; moreover, calves from the synbiotic group showed better results in virtually all parameters. However, both inulin and synbiotic did not affect the weight and relative weight of different parts of the stomach. Tested synbiotic has the potential to promote the development of the rumen and other parts of the digestive canal of calves.

Effects of dietary supplementation with multispecies probiotics on intestinal epithelial development and growth performance of neonatal calves challenged with Escherichia coli K99

“…Dietary B. subtilis supplementation also upregulates the genes involved in the metabolic pathways related to intestinal microbiota maturation after intramuscular inoculation with E. coli 69 . Furthermore, S. cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFP) improve the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy calves, 70 likely resulting from reduction of jejunal crypt depth in the small intestine, along with reduction in the intestinal pH value, as observed in animals 59 . In the present study, MSP supplementation also significantly increased the duodenal, jejunal and ileal villus heights and crypt depths in neonatal calves infected by E. coli K99, indicating that MSP‐supplemented diets can improve the development of the intestinal mucosa.…”

“…Successful management of dairy farms is vastly dependent on rearing healthy calves, and the optimal development of the intestinal tract is crucial for achieving this goal 59 . Optimal functioning of the host intestinal barrier is a major contributor to intestinal health 60 .…”

“…The growth‐stimulating effect of probiotics treatment on the intestinal mucosa has been well described 48,59,67 . The local IGF system may have a regulatory effect of on intestinal mucosa growth 28,32 .…”

Ghrelin Immunoreactive Cell Amounts in the Abomasum in 4-Month-Old Calves by Feeding Different Amounts of Prebiotics and New Synbiotics

“…Probiotics are composed of viable microorganisms needed for digestive tract function that decrease pathogens in the digestive tract, facilitate weight increase, and optimize immune system function by leaving an overall positive effect of the whole organism [ 5 , 6 ]. Prebiotics are used together with probiotics as a synbiotic to increase the positive effects [ 1 , 7 ]. There is a search for a synbiotic that provides additional advantages to animal growth, food metabolism, and health ratings in contrast to addition to probiotics or prebiotics.…”

Prebiotic and synbiotic effect on rumen papilla length development and rumen pH in 12-week-old calves

“…Studies show that prebiotics and probiotics and their combinations (synbiotics) have a positive effect on calf health and growth [2,[5][6][7]. Prebiotics are oligosaccharides that cannot be digested by digestive enzymes; they can be used by gut microorganisms to speed their growth and development.…”