The effect of butyrate monoglyceride and probiotic additives on growth performance, some blood parameters and digestibility of nutrients in Holstein suckling calves

[1] Probiotic supplements improve livestock growth, increase in intake of feed, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients and health conditions. Feeding butyrate in combination with milk and starter prior to weaning of calves may enhance rumen development, body weight, health status and growth performance. The butyrate supplement used in this study is monoglyceride butyrate and during digestion of ruminal fat, first glycerol is separated from the glyceride composition, and then the isolated bacteria are exposed to digestion and absorption of butyric acid. Butyric acid is one of the absorbed volatile fatty acids and metabolism of the rumen wall, the final product of which is metabolized by the rumen stem cell epithelial cells, a beta-hydroxy butyrate compound. The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of butyrate monoglyceride and probiotic additives on growth performance, some blood parameters and digestibility of nutrients in Holstein suckling calves.

 For this experiment, 24 newborn Holstein calves with an average age of 6 days, and about 36±2 kg weight, with 4 treatments and 6 replications were performed in a completely randomized factorial design (2×2). The treatments included: 1) base rations (starter and whole milk) 2) base ration + daily 2 grams of probiotic (Protexin) mixed with milk 3) base rations + daily ration 5 grams of  butyrate monoglyceride mixed with starter 4) base ration + 2 grams of periobiotic mixed in milk + 5 grams of monoglyceride butyrate mixed with starter. During the experiment, functional traits such as daily gain, daily intake and feed conversion were determined. Calves were weighed individually on days 30 and 65. In order to measure apparent digestibility at the end of the course, the feces were collected for 5 consecutive days. The collected samples were dried in an oven at 65 ° C for 48 hours. During the 30th and 65th days of the experiment, blood samples were taken from the vein before the morning meal. Blood samples were transferred to the laboratory for centrifugation (at 3500 rpm) for 15 minutes. The serum samples were stored at -20 ° C until measured. Blood glucose, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, total protein and beta-hydroxy butyric acid were measured using laboratory kits (Pars Test, Iran) and using the CS-400 auto-analyzer. Data were analyzed using MIXED and SAS software.

The results showed that final weight was not affected by probiotic and probiotic and butyrate monoglyceride interacting (P>0.05). But it was affected by the butyrate monoglyceride (P<0.05). Daily feed intake was not affected by experimental treatments (P>0.05). Daily weight gain was not affected by probiotic and probiotic and butyrate monoglyceride interactions (P>0.05). But it was affected by the butyrate monoglyceride (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio was not affected by treatments during the whole period (P>0.05). But in the first month it was affected by the probiotic (P<0.05). The results of this study showed that the concentration of beta-hydroxy butyric blood was not affected by the probiotic factor (P<0.05), while the butyrate supplementation factor was effective in increasing the concentration of beta-hydroxy-butyric (P<0.05). Also, there was a tendency for the probabiotic and monoglyceride butyrate interactions to be meaningful (P<0.055). The level of beta-hydroxybutyric acid indicates rumen development and the beginning of the metabolism of the final products of fermentation by rumen epithelium The results showed that digestion of calves was not affected by experimental diets (P>0.05). The interaction factor of probiotic and butyrate monoglyceride had a significant effect on blood glucose concentration (P<0.05). Also, beta-hydroxy butyric acid is affected by butyrate supplementation (P<0.05). However, experimental treatments of butyrate and probiotic (Protexin) had no effect on cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, and total protein (P>0.05).

The probiotic (Protexin) and the interaction factor of probiotic and butyrate monoglyceride did not affect daily intake, daily gain, final body weight of calves and feed conversion ratio, while the addition of butyrate monoglyceride in the diet affected the weight gain and calving weight of the calves daily. Nutrient utilization and digestibility of dairy calves was not affected by experimental diets. Beta-hydroxy-butyric acid was also affected by butyrate supplementation. However, experimental treatments of butyrate and probiotic (Protexin) had no effect on cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, and total protein. In general, supplementation of the diet of infected calves with butyrate monoglycerides can have beneficial effects on the performance and development of rumen in infant calves. In general it can be concluded that butyrate monoglyceride as supplementation of the diet (milk replacer or starter diet) may enhance rumen development in Holstein suckling calves.