Date of Award

6-2024

Degree Name

MS in Agriculture - Animal Science

Department/Program

Animal Science

College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

David Vagnoni

Advisor Department

Animal Science

Advisor College

College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of a multi-strain probiotic on serum concentrations of selected metabolites in young calves. Holstein heifers (n = 112) from a commercial dairy were enrolled within 48 h of birth and placed into individual hutches. Calves were weaned at 60 d of age and remained in their hutches until 90 d of age, when they were moved to group housing. Calves were placed into 2 treatment groups: 1) control and 2) B. subtilis, B. lichenformis, L. animalis, and P. freudenreichii probiotic (Bovamine Dairy Plus, Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee, WI). Control calves received 0.5 g of lactose in milk once daily until weaning and 0.75 g in grain thereafter. Treatment calves received 0.5 g (1.1 × 10^10 cfu/g) probiotic in milk once daily until weaning and 0.75 g (1.65 × 1010 cfu/g) probiotic in grain thereafter. Jugular blood samples (6 mL) were collected at 14, 25, 45, 63, 77, 120, and 180 d of age for the determination of serum β hydroxy-butyrate (BHB), plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), total free amino acids (TFAA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). Data were analyzed as a mixed linear model to determine the fixed effects of treatment, day, and their interaction and also the random effect of calf. Single degree of freedom contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of phase (pre- vs. post-weaning) and the interaction of treatment with phase. Concentrations of BHB increased throughout the 180 d of the study and were greater (P < 0.001) in the post-weaning (661 μM) vs. pre- weaning (240 μM) phase and greater for the probiotic-treated calves in the post-weaning phase only (treatment × phase, P < 0.001). Glucose concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) for the pre-weaning (88.0 mg/dL) vs. post-weaning (81.1 mg/dL) phase and greater for calves receiving probiotics in the pre-weaning phase only (Treatment × phase, P < 0.01). Non- esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in the pre-weaning vs. post-weaning phase and were greater in calves not receiving probiotics (treatment × phase, P = 0.0036).Serum TFAA concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in the pre-weaning (3.37 mM) vs. post-weaning (3.03 mM) phase and greater for probiotic-treated vs. control calves (3.22 mM vs. 3.11 mM; P < 0.001). Concentrations of BUN were greater (P ≤ 0.001) in the post-weaning vs. preweaning phase and were higher for probiotic treated calves vs. control in the post-weaning phase (P < 0.001). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) concentrations were affected by treatment (P< .001). Calves that received probiotic supplementation had lower TNF concentrations on day 63 of life when compared to control calves on day 63 of life. Data suggest that nutrient metabolism and ruminal development were enhanced by feeding a multi-strain probiotic.

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