Open AccessDietary supplementation of yeast cell wall improves the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves
Author(s) -
Jian Ma,
Ali Mujtaba Shah,
Yaqun Shao,
Zhisheng Wang,
Huawei Zou,
Kun Kang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2405-6545
pISSN - 2405-6383
DOI - 10.1016/j.aninu.2020.06.003
Subject(s) - ileum , jejunum , zoology , duodenum , rumen , biology , crypt , small intestine , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , fermentation
The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of yeast cell wall (YCW) on the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves. Twenty healthy Holstein male calves (BW = 92 ± 8.29 kg and 60 ± 5 d of age) were randomly allocated into 2 groups: CON with no YCW, and YCW (accounted for 0.16% of the basal diet). The dietary concentrate-to-roughage ratio was 40:60. All the calves were fed regularly twice a day at 09:00 and 16:00 and had free access to water. The experiment lasted for 60 d. The results showed that calves fed YCW showed higher ( P < 0.05) length, width, and surface area of papillae in the ventral sac of the rumen as compared to CON. For the dorsal sac of the rumen, the muscularis thickness was thicker ( P < 0.05) in the YCW group when compared with CON group. The villus height of YCW calves was higher ( P < 0.05) than that of CON in the ileum. Calves supplemented with YCW also showed a higher ( P < 0.05) villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the ileum. The YCW calves exhibited a greater ( P < 0.05) thickness of the wall in the duodenum and jejunum. Calves supplemented with YCW improved ( P < 0.05) the claudin 1 mRNA expression in the ileum and occludin mRNA expression in the jejunum and ileum. The YCW increased ( P < 0.05) the contents of secretory immunoglobulin A in the jejunum and ileum of calves. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with YCW could improve the gastrointestinal development of weaned calves.