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Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on growth performance, plasma metabolites and hormones, and rumen fermentation in Holstein calves during pre‐ and post‐weaning periods
Author(s) -
Takemura Kei,
Shingu Hiroyuki,
Ikuta Kentaro,
Sato Shigeru,
Kushibiki Shiro
Publication year - 2020
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.13402
Subject(s) - rumen , weaning , propionate , zoology , biology , hormone , glucagon , insulin , fermentation , insulin like growth factor , endocrinology , medicine , food science , growth factor , biochemistry , receptor
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) during the pre‐ and post‐weaning periods on growth, metabolic and hormonal responses, and rumen fermentation in calves. Three‐week‐old Holstein calves were assigned to either control ( n = 12) or SC group ( n = 12), the latter of which received 2 × 10 9 cfu/day of SC. The experiment was conducted over a period of 7 weeks around weaning. Daily gain (DG) in the SC group was higher ( p < .05) than that in the control group. In the SC group, plasma glucose, insulin, and growth hormone (GH) concentrations were higher ( p < .05) and concentrations of glucagon and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) tended to be higher ( p < .1) than in the control group. Proportion of rumen propionate and concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen at 10 weeks of age were greater ( p < .05) in the SC group than that in the control group. Supplementation of SC around weaning may improve dietary nutrient and energy availability and increase plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations. These changes observed in SC‐supplemented calves could be closely related to the improvement of DG.