Does the time of microencapsulated sodium butyrate supplementation have any effect on the growth performance and health of Holstein dairy calves?

Abstract

AbstractThe optimal feeding time of microencapsulated sodium butyrate (SB) in whole milk (WM) and starter feed on growth performance and health in dairy calves was evaluated. Forty-eight newborn Holstein calves (body weight (BW) = 39.45 ± 2.48 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups (12 calves per treatment; seven females and five males) in a complete randomized block design and fed (1) WM without microencapsulated SB (CON) supplementation; (2) 4 g/day SB added to WM since days 4–32 (SB-4-32); (3) 4 g/day SB added to WM since days 61–74 and an equal amount was added to starter since days 75–88 (SB-61-88) and (4) 4 g/day SB added to WM since days 4–74 and an equal amount was added to starter since days 75–88 (SB-4-88). Total dry matter intake, starter intake, BW, average daily gain and gain-to-feed were similar between treatments. Calves fed SB-4-32, and SB-4-88 had lower faecal score during pre-weaning, and overall. In addition, calves in SB-4-32 and SB-4-88 groups had fewer numbers of days with scours during the pre-weaning period, and throughout the study. Calves fed SB-61-88 had greater serum total protein during post-weaning. Post-weaning and overall albumin concentrations were greater in SB-4-32 and SB-4-88 calves and tended to be greater in the pre-weaning period compared to control calves. In general, the time of SB addition had no remarkable effect on performance but better faecal score within the pre- and post-weaning periods.