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Effects of butyrate supplementation in antibiotic‐free milk replacer and starter on growth performance in suckling calves
Author(s) -
Roh Sanggun,
Kimura Nobuhiro,
Sakamoto Kazushi,
Nishihara Koki,
Suzuki Keiichi,
Katoh Kazuo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.13096
Subject(s) - starter , weaning , butyrate , antibiotics , group b , zoology , chemistry , food science , biology , medicine , biochemistry , fermentation
The aim of this study was to evaluate butyrate supplementation of antibiotic‐free milk replacer and starter on growth performance in male Holstein calves. Twenty‐nine calves were divided into two groups. Group C ( n = 13) was fed antibiotic‐free milk replacer without supplementation, and Group B ( n = 16) was fed antibiotic‐free milk replacer supplemented with butyrate (1.6 % DM of Gustor BP70 ® ). Starter in Group B contained 0.3 % DM of Gustor BP70 ® . The intake of milk replacer was lower in group B than in C ( p = 0.07 for the treatment x week interaction). Body weight (BW) and heart girth (HG) in group B was higher than in C during the experimental period ( p = 0.07 and 0.01 for the treatment × week interaction, respectively). The duration of the weaning period in group B was shorter than in group C ( p = 0.02). β‐hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was higher in group B than in C ( p = 0.04). Insulin like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) concentrations tended to be higher in group B than in C ( p = 0.07 for treatment × week interaction). Our results show that butyrate supplementation in antibiotic‐free milk replacer and starter exerted positive effects on growth performance in suckling calves.